God is just. He does things right.

Humanity is sinful. We do things wrong.

God shows mercy to a sinful humanity. So, how is that just? How is that right? How is His character of justice, righteousness and holiness upheld, despite giving life to sinners.

That's a serious question, and today's passage provides the very best answer.

If you're able, please join us in a copy of God's Word, beginning at verse 45 of Matthew 27.

Today's passage:

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

55 There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

-Matthew 27.45-56 (esv)

"Good Friday". When you think about it, doesn't "good" seem like a really odd description for the day of our Savior's brutal, bloody crucifixion? What in the world could've possibly been 'good' about that? Well, I'm glad you asked!

Indeed it was a horrific day. The very worst of humanity ever displayed, but also the very best of humanity: Jesus.

If you're able, please join us in Matthew 27, beginning in verse 27. Today's sermon is entitled "Mocked and Crucified For Us".

Today's passage:

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

32 As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. 33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34 they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35 And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. 36 Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. 37 And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." 38 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." 41 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, 42 "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

-Matthew 27.27-44 (esv)

1 An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

2   The LORD is a jealous and avenging God;    the LORD is avenging and wrathful;  the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries    and keeps wrath for his enemies.3   The LORD is slow to anger and great in power,    and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty.  His way is in whirlwind and storm,    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.4   He rebukes the sea and makes it dry;    he dries up all the rivers;  Bashan and Carmel wither;    the bloom of Lebanon withers.5   The mountains quake before him;    the hills melt;  the earth heaves before him,    the world and all who dwell in it.

6   Who can stand before his indignation?    Who can endure the heat of his anger?  His wrath is poured out like fire,    and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.7   The LORD is good,    a stronghold in the day of trouble;  he knows those who take refuge in him.8     But with an overflowing flood  he will make a complete end of the adversaries,    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.9   What do you plot against the LORD?    He will make a complete end;    trouble will not rise up a second time.10   For they are like entangled thorns,    like drunkards as they drink;    they are consumed like stubble fully dried.11   From you came one    who plotted evil against the LORD,    a worthless counselor.

12   Thus says the LORD,  "Though they are at full strength and many,    they will be cut down and pass away.  Though I have afflicted you,    I will afflict you no more.13   And now I will break his yoke from off you    and will burst your bonds apart."

14   The LORD has given commandment about you:    "No more shall your name be perpetuated;  from the house of your gods I will cut off    the carved image and the metal image.  I will make your grave, for you are vile."

15    Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him    who brings good news,    who publishes peace!  Keep your feasts, O Judah;    fulfill your vows,  for never again shall the worthless pass through you;    he is utterly cut off.

-Nahum (esv)

"Down. Set. Hut!" That's the way the quarterback gets the play going: "Down. Set. Hut!" Not "Hut! Set. Down." Right? Doing it backwards just wouldn't work. None of the line would be in position to block, none of the backs in position to run, etc. etc. In other words, there is a certain order that has to be followed to accomplish the action.

Likewise, when it comes to the activity of faithfully following Christ, of living out our faith, order matters.

Do you know how the Bible defines 'eternal life'? It's actually pretty simple, just one sentence in fact. That sentence is found in John 17.3: "This is eternal life," it says, "knowing God and Jesus His Son." That's it! Pretty clear, huh? Eternal life is simply knowing God.

Knowing God is the "Down and Set" that precedes the "Hut". Knowing God is the fuel that runs the engine, the fire that produces warmth, the source that provides the service.

Sadly, many people try to live out their faith without knowing God. They hike their lives without getting down in the Scripture, without setting their lives upon the Word, without knowing God.

What about you? Is your Christianity based on a few familiar tweets or bumper stickers slogans, or do you know the Lord from your time with Him in His Word?

We can't live what we don't know. We can't apply God's Word without knowing what it says, what it means, how it was understood and applied by those it was first written to. That process is what today's message is all about: learning to apply God's Word to our lives, particularly the passages from our last two sermons from Matthew 27.1-26.

Today's passage:

27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money." 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream." 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to rel

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream." 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" 23 And he said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!"

24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." 25 And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

-Matthew 27.11-26 (esv)

We begin this week with a reminder of Matthew's mission. Do you recall his purpose in writing his account of the Good News? Knowing as much will prove critical in our efforts to understand this week's passage.

If you're able, please join us in a copy of God's Word, beginning in Matthew chapter 27, verse one.

Today's passage:

27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.

3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money." 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

-Matthew 27.1-10 (esv)

CS Lewis once suggested that the most difficult hurdle to overcome in a person's salvation is their realization that they're actually lost without Christ in the first place.

Most people ignore their faults and wrong behaviors, but if ever asked to seriously examine their sins, the usual response goes something like this: "Well, I may make a mistake here and there, but at least I'm not as bad as ol' so-and-so."

Indeed, Lewis' suggestion holds true for the majority. It's impossible for someone to be saved when they don't know or care that they're lost. Or to put it the other way, as Jesus said in Mark 2.17: "Only the sick need a doctor."

As the old saying goes, even the best of men are still just men at best.

In our passage today we find one of Christianity's most well-known representative: Simon Peter. He's one of Christianity's best men, yet, indeed, he is still just a man, a sinful man like the rest of us, in need of a Savior. Do you need a Savior like him?

In our last passage, Jesus was arrested in the garden. Today we find Him on trial before the Sanhedrin: 70 plus one Jewish governing authorities. They're seeking false testimony against Jesus among false witnesses against Him. But here's the thing: the only "false testimony" they're able to find, actually turns out to be true. But when you're desperate for a verdict, even the truth will do, apparently.

If that sounds a bit odd, it should. We've got some work to do, don't we?

If you're able, please turn with us in a copy of God's Word to Matthew chapter 26. We will begin today's sermon--entitled "Seeking False Testimony"--in verse 57.

Have you ever felt like you needed to come to God's defense? Perhaps it was a conversation you overheard, someone questioning the validity of Scripture, a particular doctrine perhaps. Clearly there was a misunderstanding of sorts that you just felt compelled to intervene, to step in and help clear up the misunderstanding, to rescue the Lord from being mislabeled or misunderstood. After all, there certainly is a lot of wrong ideas about God floating around out there these days.

From that perspective, coming to God's defense sounds plausible. But from another perspective, the idea of an Almighty, Eternal, Sovereign, Majestic Power needing small, aging, insignificant sinners to come help Him out of a jam... well, that sounds laughable at best.

Enter Simon Peter the Rock, the sword-bearing Savior's savior.

But did Peter really think the Lord Jesus needed him to come to His defense?

Join us for today's sermon entitled "Thinkest Thou That I Cannot?" based upon Matthew 26, verses 47 through 56.