Sitting at the Master's Feet

Good Friday – 7 Last Words Service John 19:30 – It is Finished March 29, 2013 Introduction of Sadhu Singh – A modern day prophet Sadhu Singh was a 20th century prophet (remember are in the 21st century now). He lived in India, and he grew up learning about Hinduism, buddism and islam. His father said that Christianity was the religion of the oppressor. He would have spent his life believing that until one day the spirit of Christ came to him. Like Paul, the spirit came to him and taught him many things. He spent the rest of his life as a poor pilgrim travelling the world not so much teaching about Christ, but reminding people about Christ. Story of the brother who died in his arms I was struck with a story he told…. A rebellious son once left his father’s house and joined a band of robbers living along the road through the jungle. In time, he forgot his happy childhood and became as cruel and ruthless as the others. But his father never gave up hoping that one day he would abandon his evil ways and return home. In time, the father called his servants and asked them to go into the jungle, find his son, and tell him that his father was waiting to welcome him home and forgive him, if only he would abandon his evil ways. But the servants refused to go. They were afraid of the wild country and the fierce robbers. Now, the man’s older son loved his younger brother just as much as his father did. So when no servant could be found to go, he set out himself into the jungle to find his brother and deliver his father’s message. As he wandered through the jungle, the robbers spied him, attacked him, and wounded him to the point of death. Only then, did his younger brother recognize him. Filled with grief and remorse at what he and his band had done, he embraced his dying brother “Now my life’s task and love’s duty is done.” So saying, he died in his brother’s arms. The young man was so moved by the loving sacrifice of his brother, that his heart was instantly changed. He abandoned his life as a robber, asked forgiveness of his father, and from that day lived a new and upright life. When we think of how the master died in agony to pass on to us God’s message of love, should we then not also be ready to give our lives in bringing this message of hope to others? Could be a story in Chicago Even though this story talks about jungles, and kings. In our culture of blood and violence, this story could have very well been told in Chicago. Modern version of the story The story of a young person, who had been raised to be well behaved and respectful, but got tired of that life and ran away and joined a gang. And got caught up in a life of violence and crime. And it took his brother dying in his arms to help him to turn his life around and to learn to respect the lives of others. It took that bloody encounter to make a difference for him. The moral of the story – meet him at his point of need In case you have not thought about it, the brother in the story is Jesus, and the father is God. God loved his younger son enough to risk his older son to go out into the streets and to meet him where he was, and to speak the only language that he understood – blood, violence, death, sacrifice, new life, freedom from sin, forgiveness. God knew that he had to be able to live in that world and speak that language in order to show his child true love. Violence on our streets is a major concern, freedom for our children is a major concern. We are all hopeless, despairing, and searching for answers. We do well to remember the sixth word – the second to the last word of Christ as he lay on the cross – it is finished. The word in Greek – tetelestai means it is complete, the debt has been paid in full, the mission has been accomplished. That mission – to tell the children of God that they are loved. That God loves them enough to come into their life to show them that there is a way out, there is peace, there is hope. Jesus said it is finished, so that we can stop looking for future solutions. All that we need for peace have been accomplished in the past, way before we were born 200 years ago on the cross. But here us the thing – the story that I told you from Sardu Singh – about the young man who needed to see his brother die in his arms in order to understand salvation. Well the story is not about a young man at all. The story is about you. Remember I said that Sardhu Sangh did not teach Christianity, he spent his life reminding people of what it meant to be Christian. Sardhu Sangh said that we should Heathen not spend so much time worrying about heathen out there in the world. As a matter of fact he said that we should never call people heathen – because no matter who they are and where they are and what they are doing they are loved children of God. but I like what he said – that there are more heathen in the church the outside the church. He said that many of us are like a stone, that is in the river. That water splashes all around it – but if you were to crack it open you would find it as dry as a bone inside. He said that we are like a hunter in the jungle – feeling we are safe to hunt the tiger, because it something happens there is a hut nearby and we can run to safety- only to find that we lost the key to get in. We know all there is to know about Jesus – but we don’t have a relationship with Jesus. Sardu Sangh encourages us to spend our lives at the master’s feet. Remember that bloody, violent, encounter with Jesus is what made a difference in our lives. It is with that encounter that it was finished, our debt to God was paid in full. He said that theology without an encounter with life is dangerous. There is nothing wrong with educating ourselves, but education void of life is beside the point. We should stop examining the truth of Jesus like dry bones, but be willing to break open the dry bones and truly get at the life giving marrow. Easter is a wonderful story – the greatest story in the world. But it would be nothing without bloody encounter on Good Friday. It is finished. Amen. Usage of Tetelestai While doing some research for this article, I learned there were several ways the word tetelestai was used in Greco-Roman culture—all of them illustrative of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. An artist might have said Tetelestai! when he finished a painting in order to announce, "the picture is perfect." Jesus, the Master Artisan, declared from the cross that the picture of salvation He had drawn from eternity past was always perfect, but now complete. It is finished! A servant might have confidently said Tetelestai! when asked by his master if the work he had been assigned to do was complete. The servant would say, “Yes, master. I have finished the work.” Jesus, the Suffering Servant, completed the work His Father had given Him. It is finished! A judge might have said Tetelestai! when he conferred a sentence or when issuing a ruling that a sentence had been completed. The judge would say, "Justice has been served." There is only one Lawgiver and Judge--only One who is able to save and destroy. And as the Father turned His back on His Son, the Father was well pleased. It pleased the Father to crush His Son. It is finished! A priest might have said Tetelestai! when he recognized an unblemished and acceptable sacrifice for God. The priest would announce to the person offering the sacrifice that the offering was acceptable according to the law of God. And, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16). Yes, our Great High Priest, Jesus the Lord, not only mediates for His people as a priest but He Himself was and is the perfect sacrifice. It is finished! A merchant might have said Tetelestai! after stamping a bill "the debt has been paid." The Christian's debt has been paid in full by the propitiation of Jesus Christ. By Jesus paying the Christian's sin debt in full, "God [has] made [us] alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:13-15). It is finished! A soldier might have said Tetelestai! as a battle cry toward a vanquished foe. The soldier would yell, "You are finished!" Jesus' cry on the cross was not a cry of despair or defeat. Oh, no. When Jesus cried with a loud voice, He was declaring victory of the enemy--Satan, sin, and death. It is finished! The Artist had the last word as to the meaning of the painting—not the art critic. The Servant knew if the work in the house had been completed and approved by the Master—not the stranger who entered the house. The Judge determined the sentence, it’s execution, and it’s satisfaction—not the convicted criminal. The Priest determined if one’s sacrifice was acceptable to God—not the penitent. The Merchant determined if a debt was paid—not the debtor. The Victorious Warrior determined the future of his combatant—not the defeated enemy. Jesus Christ is the Artisan, the Servant, the Judge, the Priest, the Merchant, and the Victor—you are not. Your religion is not. Your intellect is not. Therefore, repent of any false ideologies that add works to Christ’s finished work. Repent of any arrogant notions, through manmade philosophies of ministry, which would presume to finish the work that Christ has already finished. Jesus said, “It is finished!” And He meant it. IT...IS...FINISHED! It is finished, indeed. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Thank You. • 1.Matthew Henry's Unabridged Commentary on John 19:30 • It is finished' applies to: • • The work of redemption • • The Mosaic covenant with it's priesthood, temple and sacrifices • • The curse of the law • • Sin (in the sense that it was all placed upon Christ - past, present and future) • • The prophecies and types concerning the Messiah's death • • The old fallen creation (which was placed 'in Christ'). God's purposes are now centered on a 'new creation' in Christ. • • Satan's dominion and hold over man • • The separation of Jew and Gentile During one of his great campaigns, D L Moody was approached by a man who had been to a number of the services and who, although convicted of his need for Christ, had kept on postponing a decision. Now the last night had come. The appeal was over, the people were going home, the work crew was busy folding up the chairs and dismantling the platform, and Mr Moody was preparing to leave. The man finally plucked up his courage. He came to the evangelist and blurted out, "Mr Moody, what must I do to be saved?" Moody looked at him. "I’m sorry sir," he said, "but you’re too late." "Too late, Mr Moody?" The man was desperate now. "Surely I’m not too late!" "Yes, sir," said Moody. "You’re too late. As a matter of fact, you’re two thousand years too late if you want to DO something to be saved. All the DOING has been DONE. But if you would like to accept Christ by faith as your personal Saviour, you’re just in time. You can do that right here, right now."