00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Good morning, everyone.
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 My name is James, and I heard some troubling news recently.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:11 The shops were all out of Easter eggs.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 I know, there was groaning.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 Thank you, Brian, for sharing my sympathies.
00:00:17 --> 00:00:17 I was worried.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:18 But don't worry.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 I've got a way to fix it.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 We're going to make our own Easter eggs today.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 I looked up the recipe online,
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 and I've got all the ingredients I believe that we'll need.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 So, the ingredients.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 Now, I thought, when I was setting out to make Easter eggs,
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39 not everybody can eat Easter eggs,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 so we're going to have to just be a little bit careful with the ingredients.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:44 But the things that I read is that you need sugar.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:47 So I've got my sugar from home, just a little bit there.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50 You can tell my wife likes to do some baking.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:52 There's cocoa butter.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 Well, I don't actually know what that is,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 but I've got buttery margarine spread, so that's close enough.
00:00:58 --> 00:00:59 I've got full cream milk.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:00 Full cream milk.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:01 I actually have that.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:01 That's good.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 There's lecithin.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:06 Does anybody know what lecithin is?
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 No, nobody knows what that is, so I didn't bring it,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:09 because I actually don't have any.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:12 It needs cocoa and vanilla.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 Vanilla flavoring imitation.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17 Okay.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:22 But I think one of the problems is a number of people in this world are trying to be healthy,
00:01:23 --> 00:01:27 trying to be fit people, and so sugar doesn't really fit into the diet,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 so I think we probably need to put this one back.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 We're not going to make chocolate with sugar.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:33 And dairy.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:36 Is anybody allergic or intolerant to dairy?
00:01:37 --> 00:01:37 Yeah.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:39 No, I'll put this away.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 I'll put this away for you.
00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 Just for you, Aiden.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:41 Okay.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:43 So, okay.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:43 Here we go.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46 I'm going to make chocolate out of these three ingredients.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:49 And I'm definitely not going to make a mess.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:50 Okay.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:51 So we'll put a bit of...
00:01:51 --> 00:01:51 How much cocoa powder?
00:01:52 --> 00:01:52 Lots.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:53 Lots.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 Thanks, Libby.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:56 I'm so concerned now.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:56 Okay.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 There's a...
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 I don't know if you can see that on the camera.
00:01:59 --> 00:01:59 Here we go.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:02 Imitation flavoring.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:03 I'm thankful for Queen.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 You know, these guys do wonderful colors.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 Again, lots?
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 I'm hearing loads.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:11 Okay.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:12 Okay.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:13 Drops.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 How about a good splash?
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 There we go.
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 And this is going to taste great, isn't it?
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 This is going to be the best.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 Who needs coals and woolies?
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 They're missing out.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:24 I'll tell you what.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 And then just a good...
00:02:27 --> 00:02:30 Just mix that together.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 Does anybody want to come try this?
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37 It's not very good.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 Now...
00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 Oh, it's bitter.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 There's no sugar in it.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 There's no sugar in it.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:47 Thank you.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 I'm just going to...
00:02:51 --> 00:02:51 Sorry.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 In our search for the best chocolate,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 something that everyone could have,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 something that, you know,
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 people who are allergic to dairy
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 and who are trying to be healthy
00:03:00 --> 00:03:01 and not eat sugar...
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 I've taken out some key ingredients.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 I've watered it down so much
00:03:06 --> 00:03:09 so that it's not good for anything.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 It's not good for eating.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 I've taken the stuff that's made it good.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:18 I wonder, as we come to Easter and the cross,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21 has Easter been watered down?
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 Have we lost awe at Easter?
00:03:26 --> 00:03:29 The fear and wonder of Jesus dying in our place.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:31 And without fear and wonder,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 Easter has lost its goodness to us.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 We lose our fear of God.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38 We lose our need for Jesus.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 We lose our wonder of God,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 showing us His amazing grace,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 and we end up chasing things that look wonderful.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 Today is Good Friday.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 And in the weeks leading up to Easter,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 we've been looking at Jesus' final days.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 His last supper with His disciples,
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 where He prepared to be crucified.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 And we've seen that awe that we need to have in God,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 awe, the combination of fear and wonder.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 And when we take away these two things,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 just like taking away crucial ingredients,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 it just ruins it,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:16 and we're left with nothing good.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:20 And so as we see the crucifixion of Jesus today,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 we're going to see two types of responses.
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 We're going to see the wrong response
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 and then the right response
00:04:25 --> 00:04:30 as we are called to have fear and wonder,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 making up awe of God.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 And the challenge for us today
00:04:34 --> 00:04:36 as we seek to restore our awe of God
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 is to check that it's not a watered down,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 sanitized version with the heart ripped out,
00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 with those key ingredients of the crucifixion ripped out.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 Let me pray for us as we have a look at Matthew 27.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:52 Heavenly Father, we thank you for today.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 We thank you for the chance to stop,
00:04:55 --> 00:04:57 to gather as a church,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 and to remember that your Son died for us.
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 Be with us today, Lord.
00:05:04 --> 00:05:10 Remind us afresh of the fear and wonder that we have.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 Lead us to have awe of you, Lord.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 We ask this in Jesus' name.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 Amen.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:15 Amen.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 We're in Matthew 27.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 Have your Bibles open, please.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 And we're going to start by seeing the wrong responses to Jesus.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 Firstly, we're going to see Pilate and his wife.
00:05:27 --> 00:05:31 Pilate and his wife both respond to Jesus out of fear.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:33 So from verse 19,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 while Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 his wife sent him a message.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 Don't have anything to do with that innocent man,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 for I have suffered greatly in a dream because of him.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 Pilate's wife suffered greatly in a dream.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 We actually don't know any more details than this.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 I'd really like to know those details.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 We can fill it in.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 But all we can say with confidence
00:05:54 --> 00:05:59 is that she wanted Pilate to avoid Jesus
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 because he was innocent
00:06:01 --> 00:06:05 and because she was afraid of suffering and more suffering.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:08 So she's responding to Jesus out of fear.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 Pilate himself, well, he didn't listen to his wife.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 That was his first mistake.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 But instead, motivated by his fear of the crowd,
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 again, he's fearful just like his wife.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19 He's motivated by fear.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 Verse 20,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:29 Verse 24,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 but that instead an uproar was starting,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 he took water.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37 He washed his hands in front of the crowd and said,
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 I am innocent of this man's blood.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 He said, it is your responsibility.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 Pilate was the governor of a city,
00:06:45 --> 00:06:48 and he would be easily replaced
00:06:48 --> 00:06:52 if this city turned into a riot,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 if there was an uproar.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 And so he calms it down
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 out of fear of his own position,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 out of fear of an uproar.
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04 He's operating from fear just like his wife.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 And so Barabbas is released.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:11 Jesus is sent to be flogged and crucified.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 And the soldiers mock Jesus.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 They dress him up.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 They pretend that he is the king.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 And they beat him.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 Crucifixion is not enough
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 when you are an enemy of Rome.
00:07:22 --> 00:07:25 You must be utterly humiliated.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30 He was humiliated so that those who knew him,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 those who were associated with Jesus,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 they would want to cut all ties.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 The Pharisees,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:41 those who were calling for Jesus to be killed,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 they themselves are operating out of fear.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 They were operating out of fear and self-interest.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 They wanted Jesus dead because he was too radical.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 He was countercultural.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 He was teaching people
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 that they shouldn't be listening to the Pharisees,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 that the Pharisees actually weren't following God.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 And so the Pharisees were fearful of the changes
00:08:01 --> 00:08:02 that Jesus wanted to bring,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 to know a God who loved them.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 And so they killed him.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 And then,
00:08:10 --> 00:08:12 when Jesus was hanging on that cross,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 they mocked him further.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 Verse 39,
00:08:14 --> 00:08:18 those who passed by hurled insults at him,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 shaking their heads and saying,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 you who are going to destroy the temple
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 and build it in three days,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 save yourself.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 Come down from the cross.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 If you are the son of God,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 in the same way,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 the chief priests,
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 the teachers of the law,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 and the elders mocked him.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 He saved others,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:34 they said,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 but he can't save himself.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 He's the king of Israel.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 Let him come down now from the cross
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 and we will believe in him.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 He trusts in God.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 Let God rescue him now if he wants him.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 For he said,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 I am the son of God.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:53 The Pharisees rile up the crowd to mock Jesus
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 and they heap abuse on him.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 And we see this build up
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 from a number of different people
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 of mocking responses,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 of fearful responses leading to it.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 But into this moment,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 while Pilate,
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 while the Pharisees,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 while the crowd are all against Jesus,
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 we see the right response.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 We see that things just cannot stay as they are.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 We see the heavens respond,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 we see the earth respond,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 and we see the right response to Jesus.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 Verse 45,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 From noon until three in the afternoon,
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 darkness came over the land.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 The heavens respond to the son of God
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 dying on the cross.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 Darkness comes across the land
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 as the people have been unable to see
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 that Jesus is the son of God.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 It becomes literally dark
00:09:45 --> 00:09:50 until Jesus cries out in his final moments.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 Cries out to his father.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 Alone,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58 his friends have all fled.
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 He's been betrayed,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 and mocked,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 abused,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 spat on,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 cursed.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 But this moment,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:11 this is what Jesus had come to do.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 And in his death,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 he defeats death.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 And when he rises on Sunday,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 he brings life.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 Not only had the heavens closed over
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 with Jesus on the cross,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 now the temple
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27 that has a massive curtain in it,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29 the curtain is torn in two.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 This curtain,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 which was designed to separate God from people
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 and people from God,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 because God is holy,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 and only one person a year
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39 could go into that innermost place
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 and come in with blood
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 because they were sinful.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 Now that curtain is torn in two.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 No sacrifice is ever needed again
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 because the sacrifice
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 has been laid on the cross.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 That temple is defunct.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 Its job is done
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 because Jesus,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:57 in his death,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 has defeated death.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 Verse 51,
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 the earth shook,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 the rocks split,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 and the tombs broke open.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 The bodies of many people
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 who had died
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 were raised to life.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 They came out of the tombs
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 after Jesus' resurrection
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 and went into the holy city
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 and appeared to many people.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 The heavens respond
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 by closing over
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 and becoming dark.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 The earth responds
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 by shaking.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22 Shaking so much so
00:11:22 --> 00:11:22 that these tombs
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 open up
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 and Jesus,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 in his death,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 defeats death
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 and people who were dead
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 come back to life.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Jesus had previously
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 raised people to life,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 but even in his death,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 the doors of death
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 are broken open
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40 and people are brought back to life.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:53 dead people
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 are coming back to life.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 The temple is torn in two.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 Jesus' death
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 has shifted everything.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:02 And two small groups of people,
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 two small groups of people,
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06 see and understand
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 what's happened.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 verse 55,
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 many women were there
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 watching from a distance.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 They'd followed Jesus
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 from Galilee
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 to care for his needs.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 Among them were Mary Magdalene,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Mary,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 the mother of James and Joseph,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 and the mother
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 of Zebedee's sons.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 Despite all the men
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 running away,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 these women
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 have remained faithful.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 They've seen Jesus
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 in his power
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 and in his humility.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 And they will see him
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 in his resurrection
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 and they will be the first
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 to proclaim the gospel.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 And there's one other group,
00:12:42 --> 00:12:44 one other small group
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 who has the right response,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 who sees Jesus
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 for who he is.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 Verse 54,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 when the centurion
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 and those with him
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 who were guarding Jesus
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 saw the earthquake
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 and all that had happened,
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 they were terrified.
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 And they exclaimed,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 surely he was
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 the son of God.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 The centurion
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 and those guarding him.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 Well, these are the soldiers
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 of Pilate
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 under Pilate's control.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 These are the soldiers
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 who had taken Jesus
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 from Pilate,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 those who had beaten
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 and mocked him,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 those who had pretended
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 he was the king.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:24 Something rocks them
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 to their core.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 When they saw
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 what had happened,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 they were terrified.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 Terror,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 absolute terror.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 We have killed him.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 We've killed the son of God.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 We are the ones
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 who put Jesus to death.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 What's going to happen to us?
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 We've seen the heavens
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 close over.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 We've seen the tombs open up.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 Is God going to strike us
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 down where we stand?
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 And they exclaim,
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 surely he was
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 the son of God.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 They have
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 a terrified response
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 of fear,
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 but they also respond
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 with wonder.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 Surely he was
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 the son of God.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 They see in his death
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 no ordinary execution.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 The sun had darkened,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 the earth had shook,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 it was no ordinary power.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 They hadn't heard
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 from an angel
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 or a prophet,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 but they had seen
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 God's power
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 in Jesus
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 on the cross.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 And these people
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 had awe.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 the centurion,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 the soldiers.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 They had this combination
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 of fear and wonder.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 Fear because they realized
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 what they had done.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 But wonder because
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 what they had heard
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 about Jesus
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 was right all along.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:41 He is the son of God.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 Awe is fear and wonder.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 And at Easter this year,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 we run the risk
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 of missing out
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 on these two key ingredients
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 to seeing
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 who Jesus is.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 There's two things,
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 awe and wonder.
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 When you take away one,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 you lose awe.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 And you lose the heart
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 of the good news
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 of Jesus' death
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 on the cross.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 Because the good news
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 of Easter
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 is a combination
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 of these two,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 fear and wonder.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:13 God is right
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 to punish us.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 We are right
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 to fear God,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 fear Him for our sin,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 for our rebellion.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 But we don't need
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to fear Him.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 Because in His
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 great love for us,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 His son died
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 in our place.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30 And so we can wonder
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 at His amazing love
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 for us.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 When we lose
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 the fear of God,
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 we lose the awareness
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 of our sin.
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 My sin,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 my mistakes,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 the people I hurt,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 they just become
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 something to move on from.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 I'm not going to dwell
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 in my mistakes.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 I'm not going to consider
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 that I could be at fault.
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 I'm just going to move on.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 I'm going to hope
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 I don't get cancelled.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 As long as my sin
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 isn't on a big stage
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 slapping someone
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 in front of an
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 international audience,
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 I can be guaranteed
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 I can escape
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 the repercussions
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 of my own sin.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 I can hide
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 from my issues.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 I can be known
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 as a good person.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 I'm a good guy.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 Unless I actually
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 ask those closest to me.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 Or even ask the God
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 who knows me best.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 In the current
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 political climate
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 as we head towards
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 an election,
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 reporters
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 and politicians
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 on all sides
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 are pulling up
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 the dirt of the past
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 and saying,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 look at this.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 This person's terrible.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 Look at their sin.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 But can you imagine
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 someone doing that
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 to you?
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 Actually looking through
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 all the people
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 you'd hurt,
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 all of your sin,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 all of your
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 innermost
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 darkened thoughts
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 and bringing them
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 to the light of day.
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 I'm pretty fearful
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 of that actually happening.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 That would be terrifying.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 Terrifying for
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 you to know
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 actually what I'm like.
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 I'm so thankful
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 for my God
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 who knows who I am
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 and yet loves me.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 God sees
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 all of who we are.
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 He knows
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 how darkened
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 and terrible
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 our hearts are
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 and we can pretend
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 it's fine.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 We can hide
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 from that
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 but the right response
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 is like the centurions
00:17:14 --> 00:17:16 to be terrified
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 before God
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 but also
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 not to stay there.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 To move
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 to wonder
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 that He would
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 forgive.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 When we lose
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 wonder
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 at God's
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 amazing love
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 we're just left
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 with fear
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 and so
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 we can seek
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 all kinds
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 of other remedies
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 to make us feel better.
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 I'm just left
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 with fear
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 so I'm going
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 to chase success
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 to bring wonder.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 I'm going to
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 deal with
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 these issues
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 of fear
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 that I have
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 so I'm going
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 to make myself
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 successful
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 or I'm going
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 to escape.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 I'm going
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 to chase
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 being wonderful
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 because there is
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 nothing wonderful
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 in life
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 other than God
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 and yet God
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 says be in awe
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 of me.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 Be fearful
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 because of who you are
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 but wonder
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 because of my
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 amazing grace
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 for you.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 The cross
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 is the centerpiece
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 of Christianity.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:09 When we lose
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 the importance
00:18:09 --> 00:18:12 of Easter
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 when we lose
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 both the fear
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 and the wonder
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 it just all
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 falls apart
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 and it can just
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 leave a bitter taste
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 in our mouth.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 And so what
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 we're going
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 to do right now
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 we're going
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 to seek
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 to restore
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 our awe
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 of God.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 We're going
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 to do both
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 of those things.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 We're going
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 to sit
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 in fear
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 of God
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 and we're
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 going
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 to sit
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 in wonder
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 and praise
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 of God.
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 We're going
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 to come
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 to a time
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 of the Lord's
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 Supper now
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 and we're going
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 to in a moment
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 say a confession
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 together,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 celebrate the Lord's
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 Supper
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 and then we are
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 going to stand
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47 and sing praise
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 and be in wonder
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 for our God.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 So a confession
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 is going to come
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 up on the screen.
00:18:58 --> 00:19:02 Let's say
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 this confession
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 together.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 Almighty God,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Father of our
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 Lord Jesus
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 Christ,
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 you made
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 all things
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 and you call
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 everyone to
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 account.
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 With shame
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 we confess
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 the sins
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 we have
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 committed
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 against you
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 in thought,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 word and
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 deed.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 We rightly
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 deserve your
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 condemnation.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 we turn
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 from our
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 sins
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 and are
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 truly sorry
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 for them.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 They are
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 a burden
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 we cannot
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 bear.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Have mercy
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 on us,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 most merciful
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 Father,
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 for the sake
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 of your
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 Son,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 our Lord
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 Jesus Christ.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 Forgive us
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 all that is
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 past.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 Let me
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 continue.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 We're going
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 to continue
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 now.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 I will
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 say the
00:19:54 --> 00:19:57 unbolded
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 words and
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 we'll say
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 the bold
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 words together.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Lift up
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 your hearts.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 We lift
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 them to
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 the Lord.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 Let us
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 give thanks
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 to the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 Lord our
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 God.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 He is
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 worthy
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 of all
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 praise.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 And we
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 pray you
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 are worthy
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 our Lord
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 and God
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 to receive
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 glory and
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 honour and
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 power.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 For you
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 created all
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 things and
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 by your
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 will they
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 existed and
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 were created.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 Therefore
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 with all
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 those gathered
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 around your
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 throne in
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 heaven,
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 we lift
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 our voices
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 to praise
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 you saying
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 together,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 holy,
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 holy,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 holy is
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 the Lord
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 God
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 almighty,
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 who was
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 and is
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 and is
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 to come.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 We praise
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 you especially
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 for your
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 son, our
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 saviour Jesus
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 Christ,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 who by his
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 death on
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 the cross
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 and rising
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 to new
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 life,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 offered the
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 one true
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 sacrifice for
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 sin and
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 obtained an
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 eternal
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 deliverance for
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 his people.
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 Together,
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 worthy is
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 the lamb
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 who was
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 slain to
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 receive praise
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 and honour
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 and glory
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 and power
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 forever and
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 ever.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 Amen.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 Amen.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 Amen.