¤ 00:00:02.33\00:00:12.24 ¤ 00:00:12.34\00:00:17.45 >> Good morning, everyone. 00:00:22.22\00:00:24.89 Welcome to worship. 00:00:24.99\00:00:27.42 We're glad you came, 00:00:27.52\00:00:29.22 and we pray that it'll be 00:00:29.32\00:00:30.06 a blessing to you. 00:00:30.16\00:00:32.43 How was your week? 00:00:32.53\00:00:34.76 Did it leave you weak? 00:00:34.86\00:00:36.26 [ Laughs ] 00:00:36.36\00:00:38.87 If it did, 00:00:38.97\00:00:39.77 you've come to the right place 00:00:39.87\00:00:41.04 and the right time. 00:00:41.14\00:00:43.04 Worshiping in the presence of 00:00:43.14\00:00:44.47 the Lord gives strength, 00:00:44.57\00:00:46.27 spiritual uplift, 00:00:46.37\00:00:48.61 and everything you really need. 00:00:48.71\00:00:50.75 So we're glad you're here. 00:00:50.85\00:00:52.75 Would you stand as we invite 00:00:52.85\00:00:55.32 the Lord's presence? 00:00:55.42\00:00:56.85 And then, please remain standing 00:00:56.95\00:00:59.25 as we sing our opening hymn. 00:00:59.35\00:01:01.09 Father in Heaven, 00:01:06.49\00:01:08.20 we have gathered here 00:01:08.30\00:01:09.36 to worship you this morning. 00:01:09.46\00:01:12.17 We pray 00:01:12.27\00:01:13.10 that your Holy Spirit would be 00:01:13.20\00:01:14.97 here, come upon us, and empower 00:01:15.07\00:01:18.01 us to offer you our hearts, 00:01:18.11\00:01:21.01 our lives, our selves. 00:01:21.11\00:01:23.01 Thank you. 00:01:23.11\00:01:23.75 Bless the music, 00:01:23.85\00:01:25.78 the spoken word, 00:01:25.88\00:01:27.48 the prayed thoughts, 00:01:27.58\00:01:29.82 and each one of us here. 00:01:29.92\00:01:31.99 We thank you, in Jesus' name. 00:01:32.09\00:01:34.36 Amen. 00:01:34.46\00:01:35.16 [ Organ plays ] 00:01:36.62\00:01:38.99 ¤ 00:01:39.09\00:01:45.10 >> If you have a Bible, 00:05:44.34\00:05:46.14 would you turn, please, 00:05:46.24\00:05:46.84 to Matthew 26:26. 00:05:46.94\00:05:51.88 Matthew 26:26. 00:05:51.98\00:05:53.72 It's on page 669, 00:05:53.82\00:05:55.65 in the red pew Bible 00:05:55.75\00:05:56.62 that's somewhere near 00:05:56.72\00:05:57.39 where you're sitting. 00:05:57.49\00:05:58.29 Page 669. 00:05:58.39\00:06:00.46 Matthew chapter 26, 00:06:00.56\00:06:02.72 beginning with verse 26. 00:06:02.82\00:06:04.33 And we're going to read 00:06:04.43\00:06:04.93 through verse 30. 00:06:05.03\00:06:07.50 The scene is this. 00:06:07.60\00:06:09.26 Somewhere in an upper room 00:06:09.36\00:06:10.37 in Jerusalem, 00:06:10.47\00:06:11.37 Jesus has gathered 00:06:11.47\00:06:12.70 with his disciples 00:06:12.80\00:06:14.57 to engage in something 00:06:14.67\00:06:15.50 which came to be called 00:06:15.60\00:06:16.50 the Last Supper, 00:06:16.60\00:06:18.94 which has a little bit of irony 00:06:19.04\00:06:20.41 to it, because actually, 00:06:20.51\00:06:21.21 it wasn't the last supper. 00:06:21.31\00:06:22.04 It is a supper 00:06:22.14\00:06:22.94 that's been celebrated probably 00:06:23.04\00:06:24.81 millions of times since then. 00:06:24.91\00:06:26.45 And today, 00:06:26.55\00:06:27.58 we are going to celebrate 00:06:27.68\00:06:29.42 that last supper yet again. 00:06:29.52\00:06:32.35 Notice what Jesus says here 00:06:32.45\00:06:35.12 towards the end of the meal. 00:06:35.22\00:06:36.69 Let's set some context here. 00:06:36.79\00:06:37.69 Verse 26. 00:06:37.79\00:06:39.29 "While they were eating, 00:06:39.39\00:06:40.90 Jesus took bread, gave thanks, 00:06:40.96\00:06:43.23 and broke it, 00:06:43.33\00:06:44.67 and gave it to his disciples, 00:06:44.77\00:06:45.93 saying, 'Take and eat. 00:06:46.03\00:06:48.30 This is my body.' 00:06:48.40\00:06:51.14 Then he took the cup, 00:06:51.24\00:06:52.61 gave thanks, and offered 00:06:52.71\00:06:54.24 it to them, saying, 00:06:54.34\00:06:55.71 'Drink from it, all of you. 00:06:55.81\00:06:57.51 This is my blood 00:06:57.61\00:06:59.25 of the covenant, 00:06:59.35\00:07:00.52 which is poured out for many 00:07:00.62\00:07:01.78 for the forgiveness of sins. 00:07:01.88\00:07:04.25 I tell you, 00:07:04.35\00:07:05.65 I will not drink of this fruit 00:07:05.75\00:07:07.36 of the vine from now on 00:07:07.46\00:07:09.42 until that day 00:07:09.52\00:07:10.89 when I drink it anew with you 00:07:10.99\00:07:12.56 in my father's kingdom.' 00:07:12.66\00:07:15.16 When they had sung a hymn, 00:07:15.26\00:07:16.80 they went out 00:07:16.90\00:07:18.17 to the Mount of Olives." 00:07:18.27\00:07:20.90 Verse 29, one more time, please. 00:07:21.00\00:07:23.14 "'I tell you,' Jesus says, 00:07:23.24\00:07:25.17 'I will not drink of this fruit 00:07:25.27\00:07:26.84 of the vine from now on 00:07:26.94\00:07:28.21 until that day 00:07:28.31\00:07:30.15 when I drink it anew with you 00:07:30.25\00:07:32.48 in my father's kingdom.'" 00:07:32.58\00:07:34.28 If I didn't know better, 00:07:39.52\00:07:42.39 I would be tempted to think 00:07:42.49\00:07:43.79 that Jesus' words in verse 29 00:07:43.89\00:07:46.43 don't carry much meaning. 00:07:46.53\00:07:49.90 I mean, they're almost kind of 00:07:50.00\00:07:50.87 like an addendum here at the end 00:07:50.97\00:07:52.13 of a meal together, right? 00:07:52.23\00:07:53.17 You know, they have 00:07:53.27\00:07:54.40 this meal together. 00:07:54.50\00:07:55.64 Jesus says these words 00:07:55.74\00:07:56.71 about his body and the bread 00:07:56.81\00:07:57.67 and his blood 00:07:57.77\00:07:58.87 and the juice there. 00:07:58.97\00:08:00.54 And then he says, 00:08:00.64\00:08:01.71 "And I'm not going to do this 00:08:01.81\00:08:02.34 again until I come 00:08:02.44\00:08:03.08 into the kingdom." 00:08:03.18\00:08:04.05 And there's no record 00:08:04.15\00:08:05.48 of the disciples responding. 00:08:05.58\00:08:06.95 There's no "oohs" 00:08:07.05\00:08:07.78 and "ahs" from them, 00:08:07.88\00:08:08.85 you know, "Praise the Lord. 00:08:08.95\00:08:09.55 This is so wonderful." 00:08:09.65\00:08:10.32 None of that. 00:08:10.42\00:08:11.69 Instead, they just go -- 00:08:11.79\00:08:12.89 they go out. 00:08:12.99\00:08:13.69 They're done with the meal. 00:08:13.79\00:08:14.46 It's like Jesus said, 00:08:14.56\00:08:16.12 "I'm not gonna drink this 00:08:16.22\00:08:17.03 again until the kingdom comes. 00:08:17.13\00:08:18.29 Ciao for now. Let's go," 00:08:18.39\00:08:19.56 and off they go to the garden. 00:08:19.66\00:08:20.86 No one thinks 00:08:20.96\00:08:21.76 anything more of it. 00:08:21.86\00:08:22.96 But if we read the writings 00:08:26.53\00:08:27.94 that many 00:08:28.04\00:08:28.97 of these same disciples 00:08:29.07\00:08:30.01 later wrote, 00:08:30.11\00:08:32.34 it becomes very clear 00:08:32.44\00:08:34.24 that Jesus' words in verse 29, 00:08:34.34\00:08:37.11 far from being trite, 00:08:37.21\00:08:38.58 were extraordinarily 00:08:38.68\00:08:40.12 important to them. 00:08:40.22\00:08:41.75 In fact, they were so special 00:08:41.85\00:08:44.29 that those words in verse 29 00:08:44.39\00:08:46.09 might just have been 00:08:46.19\00:08:47.56 something like this. 00:08:47.66\00:08:50.76 In the early 1980s, 00:08:54.23\00:08:57.07 my family came into possession 00:08:57.17\00:09:00.40 of a brand-new 1983 00:09:00.50\00:09:03.84 Dodge Aries K station wagon. 00:09:03.94\00:09:08.78 Now, I know that most of you 00:09:08.88\00:09:09.48 know exactly 00:09:09.58\00:09:10.15 what that looks like, 00:09:10.25\00:09:11.05 but just in case you don't, 00:09:11.15\00:09:13.28 here's a -- this is 00:09:13.38\00:09:14.18 actually a 1988 example, 00:09:14.28\00:09:15.65 but in those days, 00:09:15.75\00:09:16.65 models didn't change that much 00:09:16.75\00:09:17.65 from year to year, 00:09:17.75\00:09:18.45 so our '83 looked 00:09:18.55\00:09:20.02 pretty much like this. 00:09:20.12\00:09:20.89 It was white. 00:09:20.99\00:09:21.69 It had the black stripe 00:09:21.79\00:09:22.69 down the side, same wheels, 00:09:22.79\00:09:23.83 et cetera, all of that almost 00:09:23.93\00:09:26.03 identical to this picture. 00:09:26.13\00:09:27.86 And I tell you what -- 00:09:27.96\00:09:29.00 this was thrilling 00:09:29.10\00:09:31.77 because no one in my in my blood 00:09:31.87\00:09:34.30 family had ever purchased 00:09:34.40\00:09:36.10 a new car before. 00:09:36.20\00:09:39.04 And that's because we're cheap, 00:09:39.14\00:09:40.21 right? 00:09:40.31\00:09:41.28 We want someone else 00:09:41.38\00:09:42.41 to take the depreciation hit. 00:09:42.51\00:09:43.71 So we're going to wait one 00:09:43.81\00:09:44.91 or two years, somebody else 00:09:45.01\00:09:46.05 is going to take that big drop. 00:09:46.15\00:09:46.98 And in my case, 00:09:47.08\00:09:48.05 I wait 20, 25 years 00:09:48.15\00:09:49.82 before I purchase a vehicle, 00:09:49.92\00:09:51.09 and then I'll have it, right? 00:09:51.19\00:09:51.99 Because all the depreciation 00:09:52.09\00:09:52.89 has gone out of it. 00:09:52.99\00:09:54.52 This was a brand-new car, 00:09:54.62\00:09:57.03 and it was incredibly exciting. 00:09:57.13\00:09:58.76 Now I know what some 00:09:58.86\00:09:59.53 of you are thinking. 00:09:59.63\00:10:00.80 Some of you are thinking, 00:10:00.90\00:10:01.63 "Wow, we just 00:10:01.73\00:10:03.50 don't see thoroughbred classics 00:10:03.60\00:10:05.70 like that on the road 00:10:05.80\00:10:06.74 very much anymore, do we?" 00:10:06.84\00:10:08.00 Right? 00:10:08.10\00:10:09.67 And you're absolutely right. 00:10:09.77\00:10:10.87 And the reason 00:10:10.97\00:10:11.81 why you don't see more of these 00:10:11.91\00:10:13.07 is because the entire Aries 00:10:13.17\00:10:14.58 series of cars 00:10:14.68\00:10:15.74 that Dodge built in the 1980s, 00:10:15.84\00:10:17.98 the engines and transmissions 00:10:18.08\00:10:19.01 were decent, 00:10:19.11\00:10:19.98 but the bodies were made of 00:10:20.08\00:10:21.45 tin foil and paper-maché. 00:10:21.55\00:10:23.75 And if they got near moisture 00:10:23.85\00:10:24.75 of any kind, 00:10:24.85\00:10:25.49 they would begin to melt. 00:10:25.59\00:10:26.32 All right? 00:10:26.42\00:10:27.36 So they didn't last 00:10:27.46\00:10:27.99 terribly long, 00:10:28.09\00:10:28.89 but I didn't know any of that 00:10:28.99\00:10:30.53 in 1983, and frankly, 00:10:30.63\00:10:31.76 I didn't care. 00:10:31.86\00:10:33.26 This was a new car, 00:10:33.36\00:10:34.76 and because of that, 00:10:34.86\00:10:35.73 it was awesome. 00:10:35.83\00:10:38.47 The list of features and 00:10:38.57\00:10:39.73 amenities in this car -- 00:10:39.83\00:10:40.47 I mean, 00:10:40.57\00:10:41.17 it was the length of your arm. 00:10:41.27\00:10:42.04 It was incredible. 00:10:42.14\00:10:42.97 They had, for instance, 00:10:43.07\00:10:44.54 fresh tan velour seats. 00:10:44.64\00:10:47.38 Does any of you 00:10:47.48\00:10:48.08 remember what velour is? 00:10:48.18\00:10:49.68 I mean, it has a smell to it. 00:10:49.78\00:10:50.65 It smelled new to me. 00:10:50.75\00:10:51.68 It was incredible. 00:10:51.78\00:10:52.91 It had chromed plastic door 00:10:53.01\00:10:55.05 handle surrounds and stereo 00:10:55.15\00:10:56.69 knobs and a shifter knob. 00:10:56.79\00:10:57.95 And I mean, there's all kinds 00:10:58.05\00:10:58.99 of plastic chrome 00:10:59.09\00:11:00.16 all throughout the car. 00:11:00.26\00:11:01.86 There was a hideaway cover 00:11:01.96\00:11:03.53 to go over 00:11:03.63\00:11:04.53 the cargo bay in the back, 00:11:04.63\00:11:05.76 for all the secret -- 00:11:05.86\00:11:06.56 top-secret stuff 00:11:06.66\00:11:07.40 that you carry in 00:11:07.50\00:11:08.23 a Dodge station wagon. 00:11:08.33\00:11:09.16 Okay? 00:11:09.26\00:11:10.43 And there was a chrome roof rack 00:11:10.53\00:11:12.07 for extra luggage. 00:11:12.17\00:11:13.80 Under the hood, 00:11:13.90\00:11:15.77 nothing less than 00:11:15.87\00:11:16.67 2.2 liters of raw fury. 00:11:16.77\00:11:19.41 And the brochure said 00:11:19.51\00:11:20.64 it made 100 horsepower. 00:11:20.74\00:11:24.55 Now, we later came 00:11:24.65\00:11:25.88 to realize that, 00:11:25.98\00:11:27.05 of that 100 horsepower, 00:11:27.15\00:11:28.28 there were probably 00:11:28.38\00:11:29.38 20 or 30 of those horses 00:11:29.48\00:11:30.75 that were not feeling well. 00:11:30.85\00:11:31.85 They were sick. 00:11:31.95\00:11:32.79 Some of them were actually 00:11:32.89\00:11:33.52 just dead, all right? 00:11:33.62\00:11:35.06 And so it wasn't a terribly 00:11:35.16\00:11:36.52 fast car, but still, 00:11:36.62\00:11:37.83 that's what the brochure said. 00:11:37.93\00:11:38.93 And for me, 00:11:39.03\00:11:39.93 in my 12-, 13-year-old mind, 00:11:40.03\00:11:41.63 the crowning feature of that car 00:11:41.73\00:11:44.50 was the electronic green-fonted 00:11:44.60\00:11:46.47 space-age digital clock 00:11:46.57\00:11:48.50 on the dash that glowed proudly. 00:11:48.60\00:11:50.17 I mean, it would light up 00:11:50.27\00:11:50.97 the whole front of the car 00:11:51.07\00:11:51.77 at night, 00:11:51.87\00:11:52.67 and it was as if to say, 00:11:52.77\00:11:54.68 "The owners of this new car 00:11:54.78\00:11:56.54 are the most technologically 00:11:56.64\00:11:58.01 advanced family on planet 00:11:58.11\00:11:59.28 Earth." 00:11:59.38\00:12:04.05 Now, you should know, 00:12:04.15\00:12:04.79 I'm not exaggerating 00:12:04.89\00:12:06.12 in my excitement about this car. 00:12:06.22\00:12:07.62 It really was that exciting 00:12:07.72\00:12:09.26 to me, and maybe 00:12:09.36\00:12:10.63 if you know a little bit 00:12:10.73\00:12:11.93 of the background, 00:12:12.03\00:12:13.09 you might understand why. 00:12:13.19\00:12:15.93 This was 1983. 00:12:16.03\00:12:18.53 The previous 10 to 12 years 00:12:18.63\00:12:20.47 of my life had been very chaotic 00:12:20.57\00:12:23.97 and very unpredictable. 00:12:24.07\00:12:26.27 There had been broken 00:12:26.37\00:12:27.14 relationships by many of them 00:12:27.24\00:12:30.21 in my family. 00:12:30.31\00:12:31.81 And on top of that, 00:12:31.91\00:12:33.58 we were very poor. 00:12:33.68\00:12:34.82 We were genuinely poor. 00:12:34.92\00:12:36.12 Now, we were not so destitute 00:12:36.22\00:12:37.59 that we did not have food. 00:12:37.69\00:12:39.05 I don't remember ever going 00:12:39.15\00:12:40.06 without a meal. 00:12:40.16\00:12:42.12 And we usually had clothes 00:12:42.22\00:12:44.26 either that we had purchased 00:12:44.36\00:12:45.19 or that somebody else 00:12:45.29\00:12:46.03 had purchased for us. 00:12:46.13\00:12:48.26 We didn't have a car. 00:12:48.36\00:12:49.33 We didn't have a car. 00:12:49.43\00:12:50.17 My mother was -- 00:12:50.27\00:12:51.57 praise the Lord. 00:12:51.67\00:12:53.03 There was a situation. 00:12:53.13\00:12:53.77 She worked for 00:12:53.87\00:12:54.57 the public health department, 00:12:54.67\00:12:56.10 and because of that, 00:12:56.20\00:12:57.01 there was a car 00:12:57.11\00:12:57.74 that she could use 00:12:57.84\00:12:58.91 for work-related activities. 00:12:59.01\00:13:00.94 So the key was to plan 00:13:01.04\00:13:02.84 the dropping-off 00:13:02.94\00:13:04.08 and the picking-up from school, 00:13:04.18\00:13:05.31 for instance, or doctor's appo-- 00:13:05.41\00:13:06.18 something like that, 00:13:06.28\00:13:07.85 based on going to and 00:13:07.95\00:13:09.85 from work-related things, 00:13:09.95\00:13:11.15 because then she would have 00:13:11.25\00:13:11.85 transportation, 00:13:11.95\00:13:12.72 and she could take us there. 00:13:12.82\00:13:15.16 And then, my first stepfather 00:13:15.26\00:13:17.23 came along, 00:13:17.33\00:13:18.99 and he had an amazing job 00:13:19.09\00:13:21.26 and a big paycheck to prove it. 00:13:21.36\00:13:23.43 And we went from zero to 60, 00:13:23.53\00:13:24.97 financially, in about 2 seconds 00:13:25.07\00:13:26.40 flat, and we bought a new house. 00:13:26.50\00:13:28.17 I'd never seen a house 00:13:28.27\00:13:29.10 like that, especially one 00:13:29.20\00:13:29.94 that I was going to live in. 00:13:30.04\00:13:30.74 We had a corner lot there. 00:13:30.84\00:13:31.74 It was incredible. 00:13:31.84\00:13:33.24 And we bought a brand-new car! 00:13:33.34\00:13:37.75 And stability seemed to be 00:13:37.85\00:13:40.65 coming back into my life, 00:13:40.75\00:13:42.88 and that 1983 Dodge Aries 00:13:42.98\00:13:46.22 station wagon seemed 00:13:46.32\00:13:47.29 to embody all 00:13:47.39\00:13:48.76 of those good things. 00:13:48.86\00:13:52.06 So, given all of that, 00:13:52.16\00:13:55.43 you can perhaps understand 00:13:55.53\00:13:57.63 that when I sat down in that car 00:13:57.73\00:13:59.60 to go somewhere, the message 00:13:59.70\00:14:01.17 I received was clear -- 00:14:01.27\00:14:03.44 "You're safe. 00:14:03.54\00:14:06.91 You're comfortable. 00:14:07.01\00:14:09.21 There's nothing broken 00:14:09.31\00:14:10.55 or malfunctioning here. 00:14:10.65\00:14:12.78 Life is looking good, 00:14:12.88\00:14:14.88 and, oh, the places you'll go." 00:14:14.98\00:14:19.55 All because that car was new. 00:14:19.65\00:14:24.03 You know, very often, 00:14:30.50\00:14:32.80 the communion service 00:14:32.90\00:14:34.77 is conducted in such a way 00:14:34.87\00:14:37.47 that it focuses exclusively 00:14:37.57\00:14:39.24 on two general periods -- 00:14:39.34\00:14:42.18 the past and the present. 00:14:42.28\00:14:46.41 And that's understandable. 00:14:46.51\00:14:48.12 The past, 00:14:48.22\00:14:49.02 of course, is the cross. 00:14:49.12\00:14:50.22 You know, 2,000 years ago, 00:14:50.32\00:14:51.22 Jesus died on the cross, 00:14:51.32\00:14:52.89 making our salvation possible. 00:14:52.99\00:14:54.92 The present is the new life 00:14:55.02\00:14:57.03 in Jesus today that was 00:14:57.13\00:14:58.53 purchased back 2,000 years ago. 00:14:58.63\00:15:00.60 That's represented by the loaf 00:15:00.70\00:15:02.03 of bread and the cup of juice. 00:15:02.13\00:15:03.87 All of those things 00:15:03.97\00:15:04.93 speak to the reality in the here 00:15:05.03\00:15:07.30 and now of Jesus, the new life 00:15:07.40\00:15:09.57 in Jesus Christ today. 00:15:09.67\00:15:10.64 Amen and amen. 00:15:10.74\00:15:14.31 But when we carefully review 00:15:14.41\00:15:15.71 the words of Jesus 00:15:15.81\00:15:16.91 in Matthew 26:29, 00:15:17.01\00:15:18.95 we see that there is more 00:15:19.05\00:15:20.48 than just the past 00:15:20.58\00:15:21.52 and the present 00:15:21.62\00:15:22.48 symbolized in this meal. 00:15:22.58\00:15:24.65 The past and the present in him, 00:15:24.75\00:15:26.35 make no mistake, are awesome, 00:15:26.45\00:15:28.32 but the best is yet to come 00:15:28.42\00:15:30.43 in the not too distant future. 00:15:30.53\00:15:33.26 I mean, the old song 00:15:33.36\00:15:34.13 is still true. 00:15:34.23\00:15:35.16 This world is not our home. 00:15:35.26\00:15:36.50 We are just passing through. 00:15:36.60\00:15:38.00 Heaven is on its way, 00:15:38.10\00:15:39.97 and the communion meal 00:15:40.07\00:15:41.44 that we're going to share today 00:15:41.54\00:15:42.67 is a guarantee of that 00:15:42.77\00:15:45.11 soon-coming reality. 00:15:45.21\00:15:48.04 A reality 00:15:48.14\00:15:50.31 that will far outstrip anything 00:15:50.41\00:15:52.85 that we have here. 00:15:52.95\00:15:54.08 It will even be better 00:15:54.18\00:15:55.52 than a brand-new 00:15:55.62\00:15:56.55 Dodge station wagon. 00:15:56.65\00:15:59.35 For instance, 00:15:59.45\00:16:00.92 there's going to be far more 00:16:01.02\00:16:02.22 than tan velour seats in heaven. 00:16:02.32\00:16:04.26 There's going to be mansions, 00:16:04.36\00:16:05.43 each one prepared for us 00:16:05.53\00:16:06.59 personally by our Savior, 00:16:06.70\00:16:08.06 custom made just for us 00:16:08.16\00:16:10.10 by the master architect himself. 00:16:10.20\00:16:13.13 There won't be any chrome 00:16:13.23\00:16:14.00 in heaven, 00:16:14.10\00:16:15.14 because who needs chrome 00:16:15.24\00:16:16.34 when there's massive city gates 00:16:16.44\00:16:17.57 made of a single pearl, 00:16:17.67\00:16:18.77 streets made of pure gold, 00:16:18.87\00:16:20.08 and crowns on our heads, 00:16:20.18\00:16:21.21 placed there by 00:16:21.31\00:16:22.21 Jesus Christ himself. 00:16:22.31\00:16:25.18 There's no hideaway covers 00:16:25.28\00:16:26.55 over the cargo bay in heaven. 00:16:26.65\00:16:27.98 No, no, no, no. 00:16:28.08\00:16:28.98 Because in heaven, transparency 00:16:29.08\00:16:30.92 will be the order of the day. 00:16:31.02\00:16:31.95 No more secrets. 00:16:32.05\00:16:33.96 Eden will be restored in heaven. 00:16:34.06\00:16:36.49 And while our bodies, 00:16:36.59\00:16:37.63 we are told, will be clothed, 00:16:37.73\00:16:39.03 our consciences 00:16:39.13\00:16:40.03 and our characters will, 00:16:40.13\00:16:41.40 as it were, go naked, 00:16:41.50\00:16:43.06 for all that we are on 00:16:43.16\00:16:44.13 the outside 00:16:44.23\00:16:45.37 will, at last, match all that 00:16:45.47\00:16:46.74 we really are on the inside. 00:16:46.84\00:16:49.74 Chrome roof rack 00:16:49.84\00:16:50.71 for extra luggage. 00:16:50.81\00:16:51.44 Well, that's 00:16:51.54\00:16:52.31 gonna be up to Jesus. 00:16:52.41\00:16:53.81 But I suspect that 00:16:53.91\00:16:54.64 with all the trips 00:16:54.74\00:16:55.51 that we'll be able to take, 00:16:55.61\00:16:56.64 you know, trips to other worlds, 00:16:56.75\00:16:57.91 trips to see the wonders 00:16:58.01\00:16:58.78 of the universe, 00:16:58.88\00:16:59.88 that trips with all the saints 00:17:00.05\00:17:01.15 and the angels 00:17:01.25\00:17:01.85 and the unfallen beings, 00:17:01.95\00:17:02.98 these immense concerts 00:17:03.08\00:17:03.99 and special programs 00:17:04.09\00:17:05.09 in honor of God, our king, 00:17:05.19\00:17:06.96 all of that just might require 00:17:07.06\00:17:08.79 an extra bag or two. 00:17:08.89\00:17:11.13 I suspect we'll 00:17:11.23\00:17:12.76 carpool quite a bit. 00:17:12.86\00:17:13.96 We like to be with one another 00:17:14.03\00:17:15.53 in heaven. 00:17:15.63\00:17:17.67 And under the hood, what source 00:17:17.77\00:17:19.63 of power will we run on? 00:17:19.73\00:17:21.07 Well, in heaven, 00:17:21.17\00:17:22.17 we're gonna run on Jesus. 00:17:22.27\00:17:24.77 And that means we're gonna be 00:17:24.87\00:17:25.74 in pretty good shape, I think. 00:17:25.84\00:17:27.48 Those aches and pains 00:17:27.58\00:17:28.58 that you're feeling right now, 00:17:28.68\00:17:29.41 they're gonna be gone. 00:17:29.51\00:17:31.21 The sickness that laid you 00:17:31.31\00:17:32.35 low a few days or weeks ago, 00:17:32.45\00:17:33.72 that's gonna be long gone, too. 00:17:33.82\00:17:35.32 The disease that took your 00:17:35.42\00:17:36.35 mother, your father, your child, 00:17:36.45\00:17:37.69 that special friend, 00:17:37.79\00:17:38.72 all of it will be receding fast, 00:17:38.82\00:17:41.36 quickly, into the eternity 00:17:41.46\00:17:43.49 rearview mirror. 00:17:43.59\00:17:46.09 And when you and I 00:17:46.19\00:17:46.83 finally stroll 00:17:46.93\00:17:47.86 down those streets of gold, 00:17:47.96\00:17:49.06 and we find a golden park bench 00:17:49.16\00:17:50.73 and sit 00:17:50.83\00:17:51.97 and sink into that new seat, 00:17:52.07\00:17:55.17 the message we receive then 00:17:55.27\00:17:56.74 will be crystal clear. 00:17:56.84\00:18:00.21 At long, long last, we're safe. 00:18:00.31\00:18:05.11 At long, long last, 00:18:05.21\00:18:07.22 we are beyond comfortable. 00:18:07.32\00:18:08.92 [ Chuckles ] 00:18:09.02\00:18:10.29 There's nothing broken 00:18:10.39\00:18:11.39 or malfunctioning here. 00:18:11.49\00:18:13.79 Life is looking good. 00:18:13.89\00:18:15.86 And, oh, the places we'll go. 00:18:15.96\00:18:20.50 All because, in God's kingdom, 00:18:20.60\00:18:22.53 everything, every last thing, 00:18:22.63\00:18:25.23 including us, 00:18:25.33\00:18:26.94 will always and forevermore be 00:18:27.04\00:18:29.34 100% completely new. 00:18:29.44\00:18:32.71 >> Amen. 00:18:32.81\00:18:34.84 >> And again, the loaf 00:18:34.94\00:18:37.45 and the cup that we will take 00:18:37.55\00:18:38.78 part in today guarantee this. 00:18:38.88\00:18:40.45 Because when Jesus said, 00:18:40.55\00:18:41.58 and I quote, 00:18:41.68\00:18:42.78 I will not drink from this fruit 00:18:42.88\00:18:44.39 of the vine from now on 00:18:44.49\00:18:45.55 until that day 00:18:45.65\00:18:46.62 when I drink it new with you 00:18:46.72\00:18:48.42 in my father's kingdom. 00:18:48.52\00:18:49.76 It wasn't just a random 00:18:49.86\00:18:50.99 statement to close out 00:18:51.09\00:18:52.23 an evening, it was a promise. 00:18:52.33\00:18:54.66 "This is going to happen," 00:18:54.76\00:18:55.76 he said. 00:18:55.86\00:18:56.43 "This dark world 00:18:56.53\00:18:57.57 will come to an end. 00:18:57.67\00:18:58.63 The new kingdom 00:18:58.73\00:18:59.40 of light is coming, 00:18:59.50\00:19:00.70 I guarantee it," Jesus says. 00:19:00.80\00:19:05.37 So may the loaf 00:19:05.47\00:19:06.44 that we eat today remind us, 00:19:06.54\00:19:09.08 yes, of the price 00:19:09.18\00:19:10.31 of our salvation 00:19:10.41\00:19:11.55 that Christ paid in the past. 00:19:11.65\00:19:14.55 May the cup that we drink 00:19:14.65\00:19:15.92 of today remind us of 00:19:16.02\00:19:18.05 the new life Christ lives 00:19:18.15\00:19:19.72 to give us in the present. 00:19:19.82\00:19:22.66 And may our time 00:19:22.76\00:19:24.09 at this divine table 00:19:24.19\00:19:26.83 serve as a fresh reminder 00:19:26.93\00:19:28.86 of Christ's guarantee 00:19:28.96\00:19:31.03 that the brand-new, safe, 00:19:31.13\00:19:33.57 secure, beyond comfortable, 00:19:33.67\00:19:35.57 never-to-fade best 00:19:35.67\00:19:38.07 is soon to come. 00:19:38.17\00:19:42.34 Let me pray with you. 00:19:42.44\00:19:43.35 Jesus, we are beyond honored 00:19:47.18\00:19:48.32 to be able to partake 00:19:48.42\00:19:49.25 of this meal because, 00:19:49.35\00:19:51.32 indeed, it is a promise. 00:19:51.42\00:19:53.76 It is a voucher. 00:19:53.86\00:19:55.09 It is a guarantee 00:19:55.19\00:19:57.53 that the better world is coming. 00:19:57.63\00:20:00.10 I pray that as we eat 00:20:00.20\00:20:01.16 of this loaf, Lord, 00:20:01.26\00:20:02.33 as we drink of this cup, 00:20:02.43\00:20:04.23 that these things will be driven 00:20:04.33\00:20:05.03 home to us, 00:20:05.13\00:20:06.13 that we may know for certain 00:20:06.23\00:20:07.97 in our hearts the deep reality 00:20:08.07\00:20:10.14 that you are coming soon 00:20:10.24\00:20:11.71 and that we can be with you 00:20:11.81\00:20:13.78 in that new place. 00:20:13.88\00:20:15.98 May each of us be ready, 00:20:16.08\00:20:17.78 for we ask it in your name. 00:20:17.88\00:20:19.68 Amen. 00:20:19.78\00:20:20.45 ¤ 00:20:27.06\00:20:36.93 ¤ 00:20:37.03\00:20:45.21 >> Arriving at the place 00:20:45.31\00:20:46.91 of execution, 00:20:47.01\00:20:49.38 the prisoners were bound 00:20:49.48\00:20:51.71 to the instruments of torture. 00:20:51.81\00:20:55.62 The two thieves wrestled 00:20:55.72\00:20:57.59 in the hands of those 00:20:57.69\00:20:59.25 who placed them on the cross, 00:20:59.35\00:21:01.76 but Jesus made no resistance. 00:21:01.86\00:21:06.73 The Mother of Jesus, 00:21:06.83\00:21:08.13 supported by John, 00:21:08.23\00:21:10.13 the beloved disciple, 00:21:10.23\00:21:12.33 had followed the steps 00:21:12.43\00:21:14.24 of her son to Calvary. 00:21:14.34\00:21:17.31 With the disciples, 00:21:17.41\00:21:18.67 she still cherished the hope 00:21:18.77\00:21:21.34 that Jesus would manifest 00:21:21.44\00:21:23.81 his power and deliver himself 00:21:23.91\00:21:26.45 from his enemies. 00:21:26.55\00:21:28.18 Again, her heart would sink 00:21:28.28\00:21:32.45 as she recalled the words 00:21:32.55\00:21:34.12 in which he had foretold 00:21:34.22\00:21:35.76 the very scenes 00:21:35.86\00:21:37.79 that were then taking place. 00:21:37.89\00:21:40.53 As the thieves 00:21:40.63\00:21:41.66 were bound to the cross, 00:21:41.76\00:21:43.60 she looked on 00:21:43.70\00:21:44.77 with agonizing suspense. 00:21:44.87\00:21:48.37 She saw his hands stretched 00:21:48.47\00:21:51.27 upon the cross. 00:21:51.37\00:21:53.21 The hammer and the nails 00:21:53.31\00:21:54.48 were brought, 00:21:54.58\00:21:55.51 and the spikes were driven 00:21:55.61\00:21:58.11 through the tender flesh. 00:21:58.21\00:22:01.18 The heart-stricken 00:22:01.28\00:22:02.52 disciples bore away 00:22:02.62\00:22:04.65 from the cruel scene, 00:22:04.75\00:22:06.29 the fainting form of the mother 00:22:06.39\00:22:09.36 of Jesus. 00:22:09.46\00:22:12.39 While the soldiers were doing 00:22:12.49\00:22:14.50 their fearful work, 00:22:14.60\00:22:16.90 Jesus prayed for his enemies. 00:22:17.00\00:22:21.00 "Father, forgive them, 00:22:21.10\00:22:24.87 for they know not what they do." 00:22:24.97\00:22:28.88 His mind passed 00:22:28.98\00:22:30.35 from his own suffering 00:22:30.45\00:22:32.08 to the sin of his persecutors 00:22:32.18\00:22:34.75 and the terrible retribution 00:22:34.85\00:22:36.52 that would be theirs. 00:22:36.62\00:22:38.59 Christ pitied them 00:22:38.69\00:22:41.12 in their ignorance and guilt. 00:22:41.22\00:22:43.83 He breathed only a plea 00:22:43.93\00:22:46.09 for their forgiveness, 00:22:46.19\00:22:48.60 for they know not 00:22:48.70\00:22:49.10 what they do. 00:22:50.73\00:22:53.74 To Jesus, in his agony 00:22:53.84\00:22:55.37 on the cross, 00:22:55.47\00:22:57.17 there came one gleam of comfort. 00:22:57.27\00:23:00.31 It was the prayer 00:23:00.41\00:23:02.01 of the penitent thief. 00:23:02.11\00:23:04.81 Both the men 00:23:04.91\00:23:06.01 who were crucified with Jesus 00:23:06.11\00:23:07.92 had, at first, railed upon him, 00:23:08.02\00:23:10.85 and one under his suffering 00:23:10.95\00:23:12.95 only became more desperate 00:23:13.05\00:23:15.29 and defiant, 00:23:15.39\00:23:17.99 but not so with his companion. 00:23:18.09\00:23:22.00 Turning to his fellow criminal, 00:23:22.10\00:23:23.70 he says, 00:23:23.80\00:23:25.50 "Dost not thou fear God, 00:23:25.60\00:23:28.77 seeing thou art 00:23:28.87\00:23:30.71 in the same condemnation?" 00:23:30.81\00:23:34.28 The dying thieves have 00:23:34.38\00:23:35.88 no longer anything 00:23:35.98\00:23:37.51 to fear from man. 00:23:37.61\00:23:40.28 But upon one of them 00:23:40.38\00:23:41.88 presses the conviction 00:23:41.98\00:23:43.89 that there is a God to fear, 00:23:43.99\00:23:46.72 a future 00:23:46.82\00:23:47.99 to cause him to tremble. 00:23:48.09\00:23:51.43 And now, all sin-polluted 00:23:51.53\00:23:54.30 as it is, his life history 00:23:54.40\00:23:57.50 is about to close. 00:23:57.60\00:24:00.67 "And we, indeed, justly," 00:24:00.77\00:24:02.74 he moans, "For we receive 00:24:02.84\00:24:05.81 the due reward of our deeds. 00:24:05.91\00:24:08.78 But this man 00:24:08.88\00:24:10.95 hath done nothing amiss." 00:24:11.05\00:24:13.55 There is no question now. 00:24:16.42\00:24:19.35 There are no doubts, 00:24:19.45\00:24:20.79 no reproaches. 00:24:20.89\00:24:23.32 The Holy Spirit illuminates 00:24:23.43\00:24:25.76 his mind, 00:24:25.86\00:24:27.23 and little by little, 00:24:27.30\00:24:28.80 the chain of evidence 00:24:28.90\00:24:30.43 is joined together in Jesus, 00:24:30.53\00:24:34.90 bruised, mocked, 00:24:35.00\00:24:38.57 hanging upon the cross. 00:24:38.67\00:24:41.34 He sees the Lamb of God 00:24:41.44\00:24:44.18 that taketh away 00:24:44.28\00:24:45.31 the sin of the world. 00:24:45.41\00:24:47.95 Hope is mingled with anguish 00:24:48.05\00:24:50.15 in his voice 00:24:50.25\00:24:51.25 as he cries, helpless, 00:24:51.35\00:24:54.29 and casts himself 00:24:54.39\00:24:55.96 upon a dying savior. 00:24:56.06\00:24:58.23 "Lord, remember me 00:24:58.33\00:25:01.63 when thou comest 00:25:01.73\00:25:03.40 into thy kingdom." 00:25:03.50\00:25:07.60 Quickly the answer came, 00:25:07.70\00:25:10.21 soft and melodious the tone, 00:25:10.31\00:25:12.61 full of love and compassion, 00:25:12.71\00:25:15.74 and the power of the words, 00:25:15.84\00:25:18.51 "Verily I say unto thee 00:25:18.61\00:25:20.92 today, thou shalt be 00:25:21.02\00:25:23.85 with me in Paradise." 00:25:23.95\00:25:26.45 For long hours of agony, 00:25:29.32\00:25:32.13 reviling and mockery have 00:25:32.23\00:25:34.36 fallen on the ears of Jesus. 00:25:34.46\00:25:37.37 As he hangs upon the cross, 00:25:37.47\00:25:39.57 there floats up to him 00:25:39.67\00:25:41.17 still the sound 00:25:41.27\00:25:42.47 of jeers and curses. 00:25:42.57\00:25:46.37 With longing heart, 00:25:46.47\00:25:47.71 he has listened 00:25:47.81\00:25:49.04 for some expression of faith 00:25:49.14\00:25:51.21 from his disciples. 00:25:51.31\00:25:53.31 He has heard only 00:25:53.42\00:25:54.85 the mournful words, 00:25:54.95\00:25:57.75 "We trusted that it had been he 00:25:57.85\00:25:59.89 which should 00:26:00.06\00:26:00.66 have redeemed Israel." 00:26:00.76\00:26:04.46 How grateful, then, 00:26:04.56\00:26:06.56 to the Savior 00:26:06.66\00:26:08.20 was the utterance 00:26:08.30\00:26:09.36 of faith and love 00:26:09.46\00:26:11.23 from the dying thief. 00:26:11.33\00:26:14.17 The bystanders caught the words 00:26:14.27\00:26:17.07 as the thief called to Jesus. 00:26:17.17\00:26:19.77 The tone of the repentant man 00:26:19.87\00:26:22.14 arrested their attention. 00:26:22.24\00:26:25.11 Those who, at the foot 00:26:25.21\00:26:26.82 of the cross, 00:26:26.92\00:26:28.08 had been quarreling 00:26:28.18\00:26:29.55 over Christ's garments 00:26:29.65\00:26:31.79 and cast lots upon his vesture, 00:26:31.89\00:26:34.86 stopped to listen. 00:26:34.96\00:26:38.39 As he spoke the words 00:26:38.49\00:26:40.83 of promise, the dark cloud 00:26:40.93\00:26:43.90 that seemed to enshroud 00:26:44.00\00:26:45.43 the cross was pierced 00:26:45.53\00:26:48.50 by a bright and living light. 00:26:48.60\00:26:51.87 To the penitent thief 00:26:51.97\00:26:53.84 came the perfect peace 00:26:53.94\00:26:56.14 of acceptance with God. 00:26:56.24\00:26:59.61 Christ, in his humiliation, 00:26:59.71\00:27:02.68 was glorified. 00:27:02.78\00:27:05.05 He who in 00:27:05.15\00:27:06.22 all other eyes appeared 00:27:06.32\00:27:08.79 to be conquered was a conqueror. 00:27:08.89\00:27:12.69 He was acknowledged 00:27:12.79\00:27:14.20 as the sin-bearer. 00:27:14.30\00:27:17.00 Men may exercise power 00:27:17.10\00:27:19.30 over his human body, 00:27:19.40\00:27:21.20 they may pierce the holy temples 00:27:21.30\00:27:23.47 with crown of thorns, 00:27:23.57\00:27:25.47 they may strip from him 00:27:25.57\00:27:27.08 his raiment and quarrel 00:27:27.18\00:27:28.54 over its division, 00:27:28.64\00:27:30.11 but they cannot rob him 00:27:30.21\00:27:32.18 of his power to forgive sins. 00:27:32.28\00:27:36.42 In dying, he bears testimony 00:27:36.52\00:27:39.52 to his own divinity 00:27:39.62\00:27:41.96 and to the glory of the father. 00:27:42.06\00:27:44.76 Upon Christ as 00:27:48.13\00:27:50.40 our substitute and surety 00:27:50.50\00:27:52.57 was laid the iniquity of us all. 00:27:52.67\00:27:57.44 Now with the terrible weight 00:27:57.54\00:27:59.61 of guilt he bears, 00:27:59.71\00:28:02.18 he cannot see the father's 00:28:02.28\00:28:04.08 reconciling face. 00:28:04.18\00:28:06.55 The withdrawal 00:28:06.65\00:28:08.35 of the divine countenance 00:28:08.45\00:28:10.05 from the Savior 00:28:10.15\00:28:11.39 in this hour of supreme anguish 00:28:11.49\00:28:14.49 pierced his heart with a sorrow 00:28:14.59\00:28:16.93 that can never 00:28:17.03\00:28:18.03 be fully Understood by men. 00:28:18.13\00:28:21.70 So great was this agony that his 00:28:21.80\00:28:24.77 physical pain was hardly felt. 00:28:24.87\00:28:28.37 Satan, with 00:28:28.47\00:28:29.87 his fierce temptations, 00:28:29.97\00:28:31.71 wrung the heart of Jesus. 00:28:31.81\00:28:34.68 It was the sense of sin 00:28:34.78\00:28:37.88 bringing the father's wrath 00:28:37.98\00:28:39.48 upon him as man's substitute 00:28:39.58\00:28:42.05 that made the cup 00:28:42.15\00:28:43.45 he drank so bitter and broke 00:28:43.55\00:28:47.16 the heart of the Son of God. 00:28:47.26\00:28:50.76 With amazement, 00:28:50.86\00:28:51.86 the angels witnessed 00:28:51.96\00:28:54.20 the Savior's despairing agony. 00:28:54.30\00:28:56.83 The son refused 00:28:56.93\00:28:58.53 to look upon the scene. 00:28:58.63\00:29:00.40 Complete darkness, 00:29:00.50\00:29:02.84 like a funeral pall, 00:29:02.94\00:29:04.87 enveloped the cross. 00:29:04.97\00:29:07.78 There was darkness 00:29:07.88\00:29:09.34 over all the land 00:29:09.44\00:29:11.38 unto the ninth hour. 00:29:11.48\00:29:14.95 It was a miraculous testimony 00:29:15.05\00:29:16.72 given by God 00:29:16.82\00:29:18.65 that the faith of 00:29:18.75\00:29:19.65 after generations 00:29:19.75\00:29:21.12 might be confirmed. 00:29:21.22\00:29:24.19 In that thick darkness, 00:29:24.29\00:29:27.23 God's presence was hidden. 00:29:27.36\00:29:31.00 God and his holy angels 00:29:31.10\00:29:33.47 were beside the cross. 00:29:33.57\00:29:36.57 The father was with his son, 00:29:36.67\00:29:40.14 yet his presence 00:29:40.24\00:29:42.11 was not revealed. 00:29:42.21\00:29:44.68 Had his glory flashed forth 00:29:44.78\00:29:46.51 from the cloud, 00:29:46.61\00:29:47.95 every human beholder would 00:29:48.05\00:29:49.62 have been destroyed. 00:29:49.72\00:29:52.09 And in that dreadful hour, 00:29:52.19\00:29:54.22 Christ was not to be comforted 00:29:54.32\00:29:57.39 with the father's presence. 00:29:57.49\00:30:00.23 He trod the winepress alone. 00:30:00.33\00:30:04.17 And of the people, 00:30:04.27\00:30:06.40 there was none with him. 00:30:06.50\00:30:09.00 The silence of the grave 00:30:11.64\00:30:14.74 seemed to have fallen 00:30:14.84\00:30:16.18 upon Calvary. 00:30:16.28\00:30:18.68 A nameless terror held 00:30:18.78\00:30:21.28 the throng that 00:30:21.38\00:30:22.65 was gathered about the cross. 00:30:22.75\00:30:25.19 The cursing and reviling 00:30:25.29\00:30:27.09 ceased in the midst 00:30:27.19\00:30:29.46 of half-uttered sentences. 00:30:29.56\00:30:31.83 Men, women, and children 00:30:31.93\00:30:34.03 fell prostrate upon the earth. 00:30:34.13\00:30:37.47 Vivid lightnings occasionally 00:30:37.57\00:30:39.53 flashed forth from the cloud 00:30:39.63\00:30:41.84 and revealed the cross 00:30:41.94\00:30:44.47 and the crucified Redeemer. 00:30:44.57\00:30:47.11 Priests, rulers, scribes, 00:30:47.21\00:30:49.78 executioners, and the mob all 00:30:49.88\00:30:52.88 thought that their time 00:30:52.98\00:30:54.28 of retribution had come. 00:30:54.38\00:30:56.92 At the ninth hour, 00:30:59.72\00:31:01.99 the darkness 00:31:02.09\00:31:03.43 lifted from the people 00:31:03.53\00:31:06.16 but still enveloped the Savior. 00:31:06.26\00:31:10.07 The angry lightnings seemed 00:31:10.17\00:31:11.77 to be hurled at him 00:31:11.87\00:31:13.27 as he hung upon the cross. 00:31:13.37\00:31:15.90 Then Jesus cried 00:31:16.00\00:31:17.81 with a loud voice, 00:31:17.91\00:31:19.14 saying, "Eloi, Eloi, 00:31:19.24\00:31:22.71 lama sabachthani? 00:31:22.81\00:31:25.58 My God, my God, 00:31:25.68\00:31:28.78 why hast thou forsaken me?" 00:31:28.88\00:31:33.82 As the outer gloom settled 00:31:33.92\00:31:35.59 about the Savior, 00:31:35.69\00:31:36.86 many voices explained, 00:31:36.96\00:31:39.56 "The vengeance 00:31:39.66\00:31:40.40 of heaven is upon him! 00:31:40.50\00:31:42.43 The bolts of God's wrath 00:31:42.53\00:31:44.03 are hurled at him because 00:31:44.13\00:31:45.23 he claimed to be 00:31:45.33\00:31:46.47 the Son of God!" 00:31:46.57\00:31:48.87 Many who believed on him 00:31:48.97\00:31:50.84 heard his despairing cry. 00:31:50.94\00:31:53.24 Hope left them. 00:31:53.34\00:31:56.11 If God had forsaken Jesus, 00:31:56.21\00:31:59.31 in what could 00:31:59.41\00:32:00.22 his followers trust? 00:32:00.32\00:32:04.69 When the darkness lifted 00:32:04.79\00:32:06.76 from the oppressed spirit 00:32:06.86\00:32:07.96 of Christ, 00:32:08.06\00:32:09.99 he revived to a sense 00:32:10.09\00:32:11.83 of physical suffering. 00:32:11.93\00:32:14.66 He said, "I thirst." 00:32:14.76\00:32:19.53 One of the Roman soldiers 00:32:19.63\00:32:21.04 touched with pity 00:32:21.14\00:32:22.44 as he looked at 00:32:22.54\00:32:23.87 the parched lips, 00:32:23.97\00:32:25.87 took a sponge on a stalk 00:32:25.97\00:32:27.84 of hyssop, 00:32:27.94\00:32:28.81 and dipped it in a vessel 00:32:28.91\00:32:30.18 of vinegar, 00:32:30.28\00:32:32.05 offering it to Jesus. 00:32:32.15\00:32:34.95 But the priests 00:32:35.05\00:32:36.12 mocked his agony. 00:32:36.22\00:32:38.59 When darkness covered the earth, 00:32:38.69\00:32:40.36 they had been filled with fear. 00:32:40.46\00:32:42.99 But as their terror abated, 00:32:43.09\00:32:45.03 the dread returned that Jesus 00:32:45.13\00:32:47.50 would yet escape from them. 00:32:47.60\00:32:50.53 His words, "Eloi, Eloi, 00:32:50.63\00:32:53.30 lama sabachthani?", 00:32:53.40\00:32:55.90 they had misinterpreted. 00:32:56.00\00:32:58.17 The last opportunity 00:32:58.27\00:32:59.94 to relieve his sufferings, 00:33:00.11\00:33:02.48 they refused. 00:33:02.58\00:33:04.01 The spotless Son of God hung 00:33:06.85\00:33:09.18 upon the cross, 00:33:09.28\00:33:10.92 his flesh 00:33:11.02\00:33:12.22 lacerated with stripes. 00:33:12.32\00:33:14.99 Those hands, so often 00:33:15.09\00:33:16.99 reaching out in blessing, 00:33:17.09\00:33:18.69 nailed to the wooden bars. 00:33:18.79\00:33:21.66 Those feet, so tireless on 00:33:21.76\00:33:24.57 ministries of love, 00:33:24.67\00:33:26.03 spiked to the tree. 00:33:26.13\00:33:28.47 That royal head 00:33:28.57\00:33:31.27 pierced by the crown of thorns. 00:33:31.37\00:33:35.21 Those quivering lips shaped 00:33:35.31\00:33:38.01 to the cry of woe. 00:33:38.11\00:33:41.18 And all that he endured, 00:33:41.28\00:33:43.62 the blood drops 00:33:43.72\00:33:44.92 that flowed from his head, 00:33:45.02\00:33:46.39 his hands, his feet, 00:33:46.49\00:33:48.16 the agony 00:33:48.26\00:33:49.39 that wracked his frame, 00:33:49.49\00:33:51.76 and the unutterable anguish 00:33:51.86\00:33:53.90 that filled 00:33:54.00\00:33:54.83 his soul at the father 00:33:54.93\00:33:56.70 hiding his face, 00:33:56.80\00:33:59.87 speaks to the guilt of humanity, 00:34:00.04\00:34:04.07 declaring, "It is for thee 00:34:04.17\00:34:08.11 that the Son of God 00:34:08.21\00:34:09.51 consents to bear this burden 00:34:09.61\00:34:12.18 of guilt, 00:34:12.28\00:34:14.18 for thee he spoils 00:34:14.28\00:34:16.72 the domain of death 00:34:16.82\00:34:18.79 and opens the gates of Paradise, 00:34:18.89\00:34:22.52 he who stilled the angry waves 00:34:22.62\00:34:25.69 and walked 00:34:25.79\00:34:26.83 the foam-capped billows, 00:34:26.93\00:34:29.30 who made devils tremble 00:34:29.40\00:34:31.17 and disease flee, 00:34:31.27\00:34:33.57 who opened eyes and called 00:34:33.67\00:34:36.27 forth the dead to life, 00:34:36.37\00:34:38.21 offers himself 00:34:38.31\00:34:40.81 upon the cross as a sacrifice. 00:34:40.91\00:34:45.35 And this from love to thee." 00:34:45.45\00:34:50.75 ¤ 00:34:50.85\00:35:00.83 ¤ 00:35:00.93\00:35:07.70 ¤ 00:43:23.20\00:43:26.17 >> And all God's people said... 00:43:26.27\00:43:27.20 >> Amen. 00:43:27.30\00:43:28.24 >> Amen and amen. 00:43:28.34\00:43:29.97 We have so much 00:43:30.07\00:43:30.74 to be grateful for. 00:43:30.84\00:43:32.34 We're told in the spirit 00:43:32.44\00:43:33.14 of prophecy 00:43:33.24\00:43:34.01 that after the foot-washing 00:43:34.11\00:43:35.24 service, we stand in the light 00:43:35.34\00:43:36.64 of its cross, and no -- 00:43:36.75\00:43:37.88 light of the cross, 00:43:37.98\00:43:38.81 no longer in its shadow. 00:43:38.91\00:43:41.12 Ladies and gentlemen, 00:43:41.22\00:43:42.18 that's the best place to be. 00:43:42.28\00:43:44.12 The best place to be. 00:43:44.22\00:43:45.19 In the light of what 00:43:45.29\00:43:46.09 Jesus has done for us, 00:43:46.19\00:43:47.56 we can rejoice in life made new 00:43:47.66\00:43:50.03 and in new life 00:43:50.13\00:43:51.16 that is yet to come 00:43:51.26\00:43:52.06 in the new kingdom. 00:43:52.16\00:43:54.00 I've asked two 00:43:54.10\00:43:54.93 of our elders to be with us 00:43:55.00\00:43:55.96 here to help lead out today. 00:43:56.06\00:43:57.23 Elder Gallos will be reading 00:43:57.33\00:43:58.87 a scripture for us, 00:43:58.97\00:43:59.90 and then Elder Giddings 00:44:00.07\00:44:00.87 will lead us 00:44:00.97\00:44:02.00 in prayer for the emblems. 00:44:02.10\00:44:04.74 >> The scripture reading 00:44:04.84\00:44:05.64 is taken from Revelation 21:1-5 00:44:05.74\00:44:08.58 in the NIV translation. 00:44:08.68\00:44:10.55 "Then I," 00:44:10.65\00:44:11.65 meaning John the Revelator, 00:44:11.75\00:44:12.81 "saw a new heaven 00:44:12.91\00:44:14.05 and a new earth, 00:44:14.15\00:44:15.48 for the first heaven 00:44:15.58\00:44:16.48 and the first earth 00:44:16.58\00:44:17.62 hath passed away, 00:44:17.72\00:44:19.39 and there was no longer any sea. 00:44:19.49\00:44:22.26 I saw the holy city, 00:44:22.36\00:44:23.36 the New Jerusalem, 00:44:23.46\00:44:24.36 coming down out of heaven 00:44:24.46\00:44:25.59 from God, 00:44:25.69\00:44:26.93 prepared as a bride beautifully 00:44:27.03\00:44:29.20 dressed for her husband. 00:44:29.30\00:44:31.73 And I heard a loud voice 00:44:31.83\00:44:33.07 from the throne saying, 'Look! 00:44:33.17\00:44:35.17 God's dwelling place is now 00:44:35.27\00:44:36.97 among the people, 00:44:37.07\00:44:38.07 and He will dwell with them. 00:44:38.17\00:44:40.18 They will be His people, 00:44:40.28\00:44:41.61 and God himself 00:44:41.71\00:44:43.21 will be with them 00:44:43.31\00:44:44.61 and be their God. 00:44:44.71\00:44:46.68 He will wipe 00:44:46.78\00:44:47.72 every tear from their eyes. 00:44:47.82\00:44:49.98 There will be no more death 00:44:50.09\00:44:52.15 or mourning or crying or pain, 00:44:52.25\00:44:54.99 for the old order 00:44:55.09\00:44:56.06 of things has passed away.' 00:44:56.16\00:44:59.36 He who was seated on 00:44:59.46\00:45:01.30 the throne, said, 00:45:01.40\00:45:02.70 'I am making everything new.' 00:45:02.80\00:45:05.23 Then he said, 'Write this down, 00:45:05.33\00:45:07.44 for these words are 00:45:07.54\00:45:08.87 trustworthy and true.'" 00:45:08.97\00:45:11.77 >> Amen. Amen. 00:45:11.87\00:45:14.54 Please remain seated as 00:45:14.64\00:45:16.04 the elders kneel for the prayer. 00:45:16.14\00:45:17.51 >> Great Father, before us, 00:45:23.52\00:45:28.69 the broken bread, 00:45:28.79\00:45:31.99 your broken body, 00:45:32.09\00:45:36.36 we recognize also 00:45:36.46\00:45:39.77 that you are omnipotent, 00:45:39.87\00:45:44.24 omniscient, omnipresent. 00:45:44.34\00:45:47.24 You are truly a type O, 00:45:47.34\00:45:51.91 a universal donor 00:45:52.01\00:45:53.85 for the blood transfusion 00:45:53.95\00:45:55.55 that you have given 00:45:55.65\00:45:57.02 to redeem humanity. 00:45:57.12\00:46:00.49 Continue to infuse us 00:46:00.59\00:46:02.16 with your graces and your mercy. 00:46:02.26\00:46:05.46 Bless these symbols 00:46:05.56\00:46:07.13 that we will not forget 00:46:07.23\00:46:08.93 that this is pre-heaven. 00:46:09.03\00:46:11.73 Thank you once again 00:46:11.83\00:46:13.37 for this opportunity. 00:46:13.47\00:46:15.27 In Jesus's name 00:46:15.37\00:46:16.77 we do humbly pray. 00:46:16.87\00:46:19.64 Amen. 00:46:19.74\00:46:20.41 ¤ 00:46:22.61\00:46:32.52 ¤ 00:46:32.62\00:46:42.50 ¤ 00:46:42.60\00:46:52.51 ¤ 00:46:52.61\00:46:56.85 >> ¤ On a hill far away 00:46:56.95\00:47:01.32 stood an old rugged cross ¤ 00:47:01.42\00:47:05.55 ¤ The emblem 00:47:05.65\00:47:08.09 of suffering and shame ¤ 00:47:08.19\00:47:14.23 ¤ And I love that old cross 00:47:14.36\00:47:18.80 where the dearest and best ¤ 00:47:18.90\00:47:23.20 ¤ For a world of lost sinners 00:47:23.30\00:47:27.88 was slain ¤ 00:47:27.98\00:47:32.71 ¤ So I'll tell cherish 00:47:32.81\00:47:35.05 the old rugged cross ¤ 00:47:35.15\00:47:41.29 ¤ Till my trophies 00:47:41.39\00:47:43.79 at last I lay down ¤ 00:47:43.89\00:47:46.93 ¤ I will cling 00:47:50.13\00:47:52.33 to the old rugged cross ¤ 00:47:52.43\00:47:59.01 ¤ And exchange it 00:47:59.11\00:48:01.51 someday for a crown ¤ 00:48:01.61\00:48:07.65 ¤ 00:48:07.75\00:48:17.13 ¤ Oh, that old rugged cross 00:48:17.23\00:48:22.33 ¤ So despised by the world 00:48:22.43\00:48:26.90 ¤ Has a wondrous 00:48:27.00\00:48:29.04 attraction for me ¤ 00:48:29.14\00:48:35.94 ¤ For the dear Lamb of God 00:48:36.04\00:48:40.38 left his glory above ¤ 00:48:40.48\00:48:45.52 ¤ To bear it to dark Calvary 00:48:45.62\00:48:53.93 ¤ So I'll cherish 00:48:54.00\00:48:56.83 the old rugged cross ¤ 00:48:56.93\00:49:03.24 ¤ Till my trophies 00:49:03.34\00:49:05.47 at last I lay down ¤ 00:49:05.57\00:49:12.21 ¤ I will cling 00:49:12.31\00:49:14.98 to the old rugged cross ¤ 00:49:15.08\00:49:22.16 ¤ And exchange it someday 00:49:22.26\00:49:26.86 for a crown ¤ 00:49:26.96\00:49:31.50 ¤ 00:49:31.60\00:49:38.97 ¤ To the old rugged cross 00:49:39.07\00:49:43.91 ¤ I will never be true 00:49:44.01\00:49:48.98 ¤ Its shame and reproach 00:49:49.08\00:49:52.59 gladly bear ¤ 00:49:52.69\00:49:58.39 ¤ Then He'll call me someday 00:49:58.49\00:50:03.23 to my home far away ¤ 00:50:03.33\00:50:08.17 ¤ Where his glory forever 00:50:08.27\00:50:12.84 I'll share ¤ 00:50:12.94\00:50:17.71 ¤ So I'll cherish 00:50:17.81\00:50:20.22 the old rugged cross ¤ 00:50:20.32\00:50:27.16 ¤ Till my trophies 00:50:27.26\00:50:29.69 at last I lay down ¤ 00:50:29.79\00:50:35.80 ¤ I will cling 00:50:35.90\00:50:38.23 to the old rugged cross ¤ 00:50:38.33\00:50:45.47 ¤ And exchange it someday 00:50:45.57\00:50:51.41 for a crown ¤ 00:50:51.51\00:50:58.09 ¤ 00:50:58.19\00:51:03.06 [ Song ends ] 00:51:03.16\00:51:05.19 >> Amen. 00:51:05.29\00:51:06.83 >> The Lord Jesus, on the night 00:51:12.10\00:51:14.10 he was betrayed, 00:51:14.20\00:51:15.90 took bread, 00:51:16.00\00:51:17.94 and when he had given thanks, 00:51:18.04\00:51:19.67 he broke it and said, 00:51:19.77\00:51:21.88 "This is my body, 00:51:21.98\00:51:23.68 which is for you. 00:51:23.78\00:51:25.61 Do this in remembrance of me." 00:51:25.71\00:51:28.95 ¤ 00:51:35.62\00:51:45.50 ¤ 00:51:45.60\00:51:50.57 In the same way, 00:51:53.51\00:51:55.58 after supper, he took the cup, 00:51:55.68\00:51:57.45 saying, "This cup is 00:51:57.55\00:52:00.42 the new covenant in my blood. 00:52:00.52\00:52:02.85 Do this whenever you drink it 00:52:02.95\00:52:04.75 in remembrance of me, 00:52:04.85\00:52:06.96 for whenever you eat this bread 00:52:07.06\00:52:08.76 and drink this cup, 00:52:08.86\00:52:10.46 you proclaim the Lord's 00:52:10.56\00:52:11.59 death until he comes." 00:52:11.69\00:52:13.80 ¤ 00:52:20.17\00:52:30.08 ¤ 00:52:30.18\00:52:37.75 And again, all God's 00:52:39.55\00:52:40.19 people said... 00:52:40.29\00:52:41.09 >> Amen. 00:52:41.19\00:52:41.96 >> Amen and amen. 00:52:42.06\00:52:44.23 We are privileged above -- 00:52:44.33\00:52:45.79 Well, it's hard 00:52:45.89\00:52:48.06 to imagine who has more. 00:52:48.16\00:52:49.53 The Son of God Himself came here 00:52:49.63\00:52:50.90 and gave himself for us. 00:52:51.00\00:52:52.03 And because of that, 00:52:52.13\00:52:53.37 we have new life and the promise 00:52:53.47\00:52:55.77 of new life to come. 00:52:55.87\00:52:57.81 Makes me want to sing. 00:52:57.91\00:52:58.77 I hope it does you, too. 00:52:58.87\00:53:00.31 The Bible says 00:53:00.41\00:53:01.18 that they sung a hymn 00:53:01.28\00:53:01.98 and then they went out. 00:53:02.08\00:53:02.84 Would you please stand with me 00:53:02.94\00:53:04.31 as we sing our closing hymn? 00:53:04.41\00:53:06.31 ¤ 00:53:06.41\00:53:12.49 >> As is our custom here 00:55:42.57\00:55:43.51 at Pioneer, as you leave 00:55:43.61\00:55:45.01 the sanctuary today, 00:55:45.11\00:55:46.17 there will be ushers at the door 00:55:46.27\00:55:47.44 with offering plates. 00:55:47.54\00:55:48.98 All of the offering collected 00:55:49.08\00:55:50.05 at this time goes to 00:55:50.15\00:55:51.41 the Assistance Fund 00:55:51.51\00:55:52.61 to help those that need it. 00:55:52.71\00:55:54.95 Would you pray with me, please? 00:55:55.05\00:55:58.49 Jesus, what a celebration. 00:55:58.59\00:56:00.86 You have lavished 00:56:00.96\00:56:01.99 your love upon us. 00:56:02.09\00:56:03.16 Of all the places in 00:56:03.26\00:56:03.83 the universe 00:56:03.93\00:56:04.53 that you could have made 00:56:04.63\00:56:06.06 the center of your focus, 00:56:06.16\00:56:07.10 you've chosen here. 00:56:07.20\00:56:08.36 Thank you. 00:56:08.46\00:56:09.63 Thank you for the gift 00:56:09.73\00:56:10.37 of the cross. 00:56:10.47\00:56:11.47 Thank you for the gift 00:56:11.57\00:56:12.30 of new life now. 00:56:12.40\00:56:13.80 And thank you, Lord, 00:56:13.90\00:56:15.07 for the gift of new life 00:56:15.17\00:56:16.94 that is yet to come. 00:56:17.04\00:56:18.84 May we, Lord, live 00:56:18.94\00:56:19.84 better lives because of this. 00:56:19.94\00:56:21.51 And may our witness shine clear 00:56:21.61\00:56:23.65 that others might 00:56:23.75\00:56:24.81 find you, as well. 00:56:24.91\00:56:26.85 We ask this Lord in your name. 00:56:26.95\00:56:29.18 Amen. 00:56:29.28\00:56:29.98 >> Amen. 00:56:30.09\00:56:30.92 ¤ 00:56:31.02\00:56:35.26 >> Thank you for joining us 00:56:46.63\00:56:47.04 today. 00:56:47.14\00:56:48.30 You know, 00:56:48.40\00:56:49.34 our goal with every worship 00:56:49.44\00:56:50.84 service at Pioneer Memorial 00:56:50.94\00:56:52.44 is that our listeners will come 00:56:52.54\00:56:53.81 to know Jesus Christ as their 00:56:53.91\00:56:55.14 personal friend and savior. 00:56:55.24\00:56:56.98 Have you taken this step 00:56:57.08\00:56:58.11 in your life, 00:56:58.21\00:56:59.25 or would you like to know more 00:56:59.35\00:57:00.58 about what this step looks like? 00:57:00.68\00:57:02.35 If so, I have a special gift 00:57:02.45\00:57:04.39 that I would love 00:57:04.49\00:57:05.25 to put in your hands. 00:57:05.35\00:57:06.45 It's this little book, 00:57:06.55\00:57:07.76 called "Steps to Christ." 00:57:07.86\00:57:09.96 Now, it's not a very long book. 00:57:10.06\00:57:11.63 As you can see, 00:57:11.73\00:57:12.36 it's only this thick. 00:57:12.46\00:57:14.20 But don't let the size fool you. 00:57:14.30\00:57:16.10 This is one powerful book. 00:57:16.20\00:57:17.97 In fact, 00:57:18.07\00:57:19.00 this book is so powerful, 00:57:19.10\00:57:20.24 so life-transforming 00:57:20.34\00:57:21.74 that it's become a favorite 00:57:21.84\00:57:23.00 for millions all over the world, 00:57:23.10\00:57:24.64 making it one of the most 00:57:24.74\00:57:25.57 translated and most published 00:57:25.67\00:57:26.78 books in history. 00:57:26.88\00:57:28.11 It can be yours for free 00:57:28.21\00:57:30.15 by calling the number 00:57:30.25\00:57:31.28 on your screen, 877-HIS-WILL. 00:57:31.38\00:57:33.75 That's 877, 00:57:33.85\00:57:35.18 the two words "his will." 00:57:35.28\00:57:37.05 Call today. 00:57:37.15\00:57:38.32 You can also download 00:57:38.42\00:57:39.45 a free copy at 00:57:39.55\00:57:40.76 pmchurch.org/stepstochrist. 00:57:40.86\00:57:43.39 That's 00:57:43.49\00:57:44.43 pmchurch.org/stepstochrist. 00:57:44.53\00:57:47.30 Don't wait. Get your copy today. 00:57:47.40\00:57:49.60 A forever friendship with Jesus 00:57:49.70\00:57:51.30 is waiting for you. 00:57:51.40\00:57:53.23 ¤ 00:57:53.34\00:57:55.50 ¤ 00:57:58.91\00:58:08.88 ¤ 00:58:08.98\00:58:18.89 ¤ 00:58:18.99\00:58:27.07