Torn: No Words Needed! Mark 15:37-38

Welcome and Announcements:

Happy Mother’s Day!

I hope you are able to have a wonderful time with your families today. If your mother is no longer with us, I pray you will be able to spend the day with some lovely memories of your time with her before she passed.

Before you leave today, we have a small gift to give you to recognize you and the important work you are doing or have done as a mother.

I had a wonderful vacation. God blessed me repeatedly throughout the two weeks. I was in a small, rustic cabin and the two weeks were more like a two week spiritual retreat. I rested! I studied things I wanted to study for personal fun (I know, I am odd. I enjoy study!). I read a couple of westerns and am well into an inspiration fantasy (something along the lines of C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” though this story involves dragons. :-) (Remember, I was a children’s pastor. It wasn’t only for the love of children, I enjoy games and youth fiction as well!) Anyway, thank you for your prayers. God answered them. I had a wonderful time but I am glad to be back. So is Jolie! She stayed in bed that first morning back until nearly 11 a.m. :-)

I hope you enjoyed the devotional we read for Lent. I also hope you all received a copy of the new one I handed out at Easter. If you have not yet gotten one, please be sure to grab one as you leave today. You have not missed much as it was to have been started this past Wednesday. Why Wednesday? Because this is another Lent devotional, however, I loved the topic for the season of Easter. Throughout Lent, we were walking in Jesus’ footsteps that last week of His life. We are now going to retrace that subject but instead of focusing on what Jesus experienced, we are going to focus on what He accomplished. This devotional will follow the subjects I will be preaching on for the next 6-7 weeks. They are not long, but I really believe you will enjoy this series. (Please forgive me for not preaching a traditional Mother’s Day subject. I really wanted us to get started on this series). I will add that these sermons are not originated by me, but they are edited by me. I have added my own thoughts and outlines and such to them. I do not always like doing that but I really liked this series and it will free me up to get back in the swing of things and take care of people and business things! To give you something to compare, the original sermon was 10 minutes and I have morphed it into about 30 minutes. I want you to feel it was worth the time coming today! ;-)

Next week, we will have a potluck in celebration of Megan Duffy’s graduation as well as an opportunity to say our goodbye’s to the Duffy’s as they will leave immediately the next day to move to Texas. We have appreciated Allan’s service as mayor of our town for several year’s and have enjoyed getting to know them all better as they have attended our services. They will leave a big hole in our community and we have appreciated all they have done in and for our church. There have been things they have provided and taken care of while they were here, even before attending our church. We will miss them!

(IF VISITORS)

If you are joining us for the first time today, we would like to thank you for joining us. We know you have options, and we are honored that you would choose to be with us today.

Mother’s Day Video

Stand with me as we open our worship with scripture.

Psalm 5

Opening Scripture:

Psalm 5 NIV

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David. 1 Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. 2 Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. 4 For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. 5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; 6 you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. 7 But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. 8 Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. 9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. 10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. 11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12 Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Prayer

Worship Set

Prayer

Worship Through the Word:

Torn

What do you think of when you think of the word communication?  That word has taken on a whole new perspective these days.  People communicate in all kinds of ways; texts, email, FaceBook, Twitter, Instagramm. etc…  But nothing is as good as the good ol’ face-to-face method as far as I am concerned.  Being directly in the presence of the ones we love and sharing our hearts while watching their facial expressions. 

What makes our God different from all other gods, is that He welcomes us into His presence.  He observes our faces and listens to our heart’s cry.  He cares about what we want and what we think. 

Look for a moment at this old Bible of mine.  I hope you all have a Bible in your homes similar, and what I mean by similar is one that is falling apart of long-time use.  Now, do not start checking out everyone’s Bibles and judging them on it.  The Bible they bring to church may be a new one, but they may have one at home just like this one.  This Bible is one of my most treasured possessions.  It represents a time in my life when I decided that I was willing to give up everything in my life for God.  It represents hours and hours of time in God’s presence.  It is highlighted, underlined, with notes in the margins and front and back covers.  It has had so much use, it is unusable now as it is falling apart from so much use.  It represents the time in my life when finally realized how exciting it was to be able to enter God’s presence and hear from and speak directly to Him.

This was the way God wanted things, and humanity began with that kind of relationship with God.  However, our ability to enter His presence was destroyed when Adam and Eve sinned against God.  God could have turned His back on humanity, but He didn’t!  Instead, He set about to provide the means for us to return to that kind of relationship.  He sent His Son to open that door once again, providing us free entrance into His presence.  This is the subject of today’s message.  Please stand as I read our text today.

Exodus 26:30–33NIV

30 “Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain. 31 “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. 32Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.

Hebrews 9:1–14NIV

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

The Word of God for the people of God.  Thanks be to God!

Father, please bless this Word which you have provided and which we now receive. Amen!

I.  No Words Needed, Mark 15:37-38

(Video)

There was once a man who was a member of the local church. He attended regularly but, for some reason, stopped going. A few weeks later, the preacher decided to pay a visit to his house.

The man was surprised but pleased to see his pastor. It was a chilly evening and so he invited the pastor to sit in a big chair by a blazing fire in the fireplace.

The pastor watched the flames around the burning logs but said nothing. Then quietly, he got up, took the fire tongs, removed one brightly burning ember, and laid it to one side of the hearth, all alone. Still silent, he sat back down.

His host watched in quiet confusion as the ember’s glow diminished until its fire went out. Still, not a word had been spoken since the preacher arrived. The silence continued.

Then, without words, the preacher got up from his chair and, with the tongs, lifted the ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more, ignited by the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher prepared to depart, his host humbly said, “Thank you for the sermon and your visit. I will see you in church next Sunday.”

Sometimes, no words are needed.

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This is the way it was with the veil of the temple in Jerusalem the day Jesus died. That veil was 60 feet in height and 30 feet in width. It was as thick as a man’s hand, and so heavy that it took 300 priests to carry it. This was not your grandmother’s curtain hung in the kitchen window.

Embroidered on the fabric were depictions of the cherubim. Here’s what God had told his people about the curtain that hung in the tabernacle, the precursor of the temple:

Exodus 26:31NIV

31“Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker.

What do you know about the cherubim as the Bible describes them?

Cherubim are the angels who stand closest to God’s throne. Powerful and mysterious, their role is to serve as guardians. We first encountered them in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:23–24NIV

23 So the LordGod banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

The message in the Garden was as clear as that of the veil in the temple:

“Keep out! You are no longer welcome here!”

No one dared to enter past that veil except the high priest, and that only once a year on the Day of Atonement.  Even then, the other priests would tie a rope around his ankle so that if God in just anger at his people’s sins struck the high priest dead, they could drag him out, avoiding the risk of entering beyond the veil themselves. Any volunteers for the office of high priest of that Tabernacle?

But back to Eden. Can you imagine the loss Adam and Eve experienced, banished from the Garden and the God whom they had spoken to so freely before.

Many threads weave themselves in and out of the biblical narrative. However, the key thread, is all that God did to get us back to Eden, back to the tree of life.

Revelation 22:1–2 NIV

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Has it ever struck you that were it not for sin, the only pages we would have or need in the Bible would be Genesis 1 & 2, and Revelation 22? Everything included in the pages between those chapters describes the steps our Lord has taken to reconcile we sinners to himself, giving us access to the tree of life once again.

The tree of life! One glorious day, we shall be back to where all this started, back at the tree of life. But then, its fruit will no longer be forbidden. No cherubim will stand guarding it. We will have free and eternal access.

How did God accomplish this? By means of another moment when no words were needed.

Mark 14:60–61NIV

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Jesus kept silent! The Word of God said nothing. The One who had called all things that exist into being with only His words, now stood silent. (Be silent!  Allow this to sink in, in silence...).  What are we to make of this?

A.  Why was Jesus silent ?

No words were needed!

 1.  Jesus was silent because he was guilty .

Please tell me that the sound of that makes you uncomfortable! It is okay to squirm a little when I say that.  However, it is true! Jesus was guilty!  Guilty with your sin and my sin.  His Father allowed Him to stand in our place!

Romans 3:19NIV

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

 There are times when a person is caught doing something wrong, and no words of accusation are needed. The person is guilty and knows it. Ever been in that place?  You are caught red-handed, what can you say?  Adam and Eve are proof of this. See them hiding behind the bush over there, as God calls out for them. This was that moment for Jesus as he stood accountable, not to the high priest, but before the heavenly Father himself. No words needed! “That every mouth may be stopped”! according to Paul in Romans.

2.  In silence, Jesus went to the cross to suffer our punishment .

This had been foretold by the prophet long before.

Isaiah 53:7NIV

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

In the weeks ahead, we will revisit the journey to the cross. There, once again, we will hear the seven words of our Savior. For the most part, however, the cross is shrouded in silence.

Few words are needed as we consider not only that Jesus carried our sin to the cross but that he became our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 Can you imagine? Jesus became sin, yoursin.

What is the sin that shames you the most?  If you participated in our Ash Wednesday event, remember back to that blackboard.  There you wrote your most hideous sin.  Remember how eager you were to erase it before anyone saw what you had written.  Jesus died for that sin, but he became the sin as well. The sin that you would not want anyone to know about. Jesus became that sin so that you could be right with God. Jesus became the thief. Jesus became the murderer.

Jesus became _________(blank)___________________.

Go ahead and fill in the blank (in your mind) as you name that sin that pierces your conscience the most deeply.  Think about that for a moment.  Name it and claim it.  Now, just like you did with that chalkboard, erase it!  Erase it from your mind.  Why?

B.  Because God no longer accuses you because Jesus paid for it redeeming you from it!

Now, you are free to enter God’s presence.  How do I know?  Because...

1. When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn .

Rrrrip! No words needed. From top to bottom (60 ft hgt), this massive curtain was torn in two. No human hands could have torn this veil. Only God could have done this—not only the ripping of the veil but the paying of the debt that we owed because of our disobedience.

Now there is before us this invitation.

Hebrews 4:16NIV

16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

a.  The word confidence at its root means “ free to speak .”

Incredible, isn’t it? We go from being silent before God to being free to speak whatever is on our heart and mind.

What is it that keeps us from being more prayerful? There may be many reasons, but I believe the primary one is our lack of confidence. We are not confident we are welcomeor even wanted at our Father’s throne.

However, the veil torn on Good Friday says otherwise. The veil torn when Jesus died changes all of this.

Hebrews 10:19NIV

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

We become brothers and sisters with the right to enter boldly when we receive Jesus as our Savior.  He paid the price for everyone!  It is a gift He offers to us.  However, as with any gift, we must receive it.  We do so by placing our faith in His identity, and in His leadership.  We literally entrust every aspect of our lives to Him, and He hands us a receipt that says, “Paid in full!” 

Now, more than ever, when the situation in our world keeps so many away from God, let us come before God’s throne to pray with confidence on their behalf. Let us pray that those who have been removed from the warmth and light of Christian fellowship will return, that the flame of faith will be rekindled.

In silence, Jesus went to the cross to suffer our punishment.  Jesus paid the price for all!  Now, all are welcome to accept His gift and enter—confidently—by faith!

John 6:37NIV

37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

We pray . . .

Jesus, you became my sin. I cannot imagine how. I cannot understand why. Yet, I trust you when you say that you will not cast me away as I come near. Help me to enter in peace and confidence through the veil that you have opened by your death and resurrection. Amen.

When you pray that prayer, and you grow in confidence, you will find your Bible begins to look like mine.  Worn, torn, marked, and treasured!

Where are you this morning?  Have you found that confidence?  If you have not, I want to give you time to do so.  You may wish to start by coming up to the altar which represents God’s throne.  If you are unable to kneel, feel free to sit on the front pew.  I have a song I wish to play as you each take time to think on what you have heard this morning and respond according to God’s call on your heart here and now.

(Torn, A CTA promotional series)

Video:  “I Just Want to Be Where You Are”

Prayer

Worship Set

Benediction