The first song I ever bought was Jason Donovan ‘sealed with a kiss’… I’ll give you a moment to digest that. I’m not proud of, I’m not sure what I was thinking but there it is. I like to think my musical taste has moved on but I have to confess I have owned a bewitched album since that time. But despite the odd mistake in my purchases and for the purpose of this post it’s the sad honest truth.

Apparently my film taste isn’t much better (according to a certain someone). Again I’ll be honest, yes I have ‘step up’ and ‘you got served’ perhaps even worse I liked them. Quality soundtrack, breakdancing – what’s not to like??!!! It was a moment of weakness!

So maybe I do make the odd faux pas with my music and films but I won’t hide it. I’m definitely not proud of those choices but I won’t run away from them.. so ner!

This is easily moved over into my Christian life. As a proud man I struggle to admit my failings and faults. I make mistakes all the time and I know how much it hurts my Father God.

But am I honest to those brothers and sisters around me? Do I level with them on how I struggle? Of course not, instead I play the ‘F’ card. The ‘F’ card, if you’re not aware, is the special Christian card we play when asked the fateful question “How are things?”, our natural response is to get out our Christian deck of cards and play our “I’m fine” card.

The ‘fine’ card can be played at anytime and will stop someone, who actually is genuinely interested in finding out how you are doing, in their tracks.

Of course we’re not fine, we’re struggling. We screwed up. We’re feeling cold and distant from God, in fact we’re doubting if we even have a personal relationship with Christ.

Oh sure, we’ll admit the ‘small sins’, you don’t run the risk I’ve being frowned out as much. You know the ones – “I haven’t read my bible for a week”, “I’m not praying enough”. Whilst somewhere deep inside you are carrying the scars from when you had sex before you were married or the hate you feel for your parents – things which you would never share.

Now I’m not saying you have to wash your dirty laundry to all comers but I hope you get the jist.

I can tell you that I have made mistakes, I have hurt people. I have been selfish, arrogant and proud and sometimes the consequences of our mistakes far outlive our moments of weakness. I look back and wonder that maybe if I had been honest with myself and those around me I could have prevented half the scars I’m responsible for.

And sometimes drastic action is needed. I know of someone who struggled with a certain weakness. To counter this he was honest and open with his Christian housemates and in an effort to be totally upfront with them he took the door off to his room, wow that’s drastic and I have absolute respect for that person.

Consider the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Especially focus on his return:

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ 

What strikes me is that the father throws a welcome home party for the son. Its not a ‘you never left’ party, not an ‘everythings fine’ party. He makes a point of saying his son “was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” He says it again to the older brother.

The reason to celebrate was not that things were fine but that the son who was lost, who had made choices and made mistakes had returned, was found! The fact he had screwed up, had walked away was not a source of shame but was cause to celebrate.

The truth and reality of being found and alive could only be highlighted in full neon glow by the pain of being lost and dead.

I don’t know what kind of baggage you’re carrying right now, what mistakes you’ve made or are making.  It doesn’t make you a failure, it doesn’t mean God has pushed you out of his ‘circle of trust’. If you are surrounded by good Christian friends then it’s ok to admit your struggles and weaknesses, you don’t have to pretend all is fine. You’re not alone – trust me I’ve made some massive mistakes!

The internet is a wonderful thing, I have grown up along side this technical wonder and have witnessed it explode into the biggest database of information known to man.

The ease in which anybody can create a website is phenomenal which is why we have amazing sites dedicated to things like the history of a tree grown on a deserted island, devoid of sentient life.

This of course is slightly dangerous, mainly because you don’t really know who’s come up with the information and how. Highlighted in no greater way then the open source, information database ‘Wikipedia’.

Most people will make Wikipedia their first port of call to find answers to whatever question they are stuck on. But Wikipedia of course, is open to anyone, to write anything on any subject.

And if it’s a subject we know little about who are we to argue?

This crosses over inevitably into our own Christian lives, is it laziness? Naivety? Who knows but it’s easily done…

“Test everything. Hold on to the good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
1 John 4:1-3

Some years ago I was a leader of a very mature church youth group. These young people were growing in their personal walks with the Lord, they were thirsting to know more of father God. They were reading book upon books and getting into some great discussions.
It soon became apparent however, that the young people were picking up on ideas written by men (not all of the same belief and thinking) and taking them as gospel. The bible studies were becoming more interesting by the week as I would hear someone come out of with something which you knew they hadn’t thought of and hadn’t studied.

Instead of researching what was being said, instead of testing against scripture and drawing their own conclusions – they fell into the trap (like I do all too easily) of thinking that because this persons written a Christian book that it must be right.

It’s like sermons – often after listening to a sermon I forget to go home and test what the preacher said against Scripture. A lot of times we put people like pastors on pedestals and assume that they know everything there is to know about the Bible.

We listen to whatever they say and, unfortunately, we don’t always question it. We get this “Well, he’s a pastor, and he probably knows his stuff, so what he’s saying is most likely true” attitude. This can prove problematic when we run into false prophets if we take everything teachers of the Word say at face value.

Don’t accept everything, but rather, test everything against the absolute truth of Scripture.

If we don’t question what we hear from pastors, speakers, prophets, and the like, we will be easily led astray. But if we know the voice of the Shepherd, like He said we will, then we’ll be able to hear that (or the lack of its prescience) in teachings. But if we dwell in ignorance, then any wolf could come into our nice, comfortable pasture and drag us off into false teaching.

How do we know if someone’s teaching is from God? If it doesn’t contradict Scripture. If it’s truth, it will line up with Scripture. If it’s not, it won’t.

It’s why we carry our Bibles to church. This way, we can test whatever the pastor says against the Truth. He could say anything like quote a verse and say it’s from 1 Peter 8:3, and we wouldn’t know unless we looked it up and later found out that there is no 1 Peter chapter 8.
It’s allowed me to grow by taking notes during the sermon, and then later when I get home, I’ll sit down and look over the verses the pastor mentioned and study the teaching further.

Bringing your Bible to church and later going over the teaching afterward is a great way to grow in your knowledge of the Word and your relationship with God.
There are false prophets in the world, whether they know it or not. Their teaching will lead you astray if you’re not prepared. Not everyone who claims to speak in God’s name actually is.

There are a lot of wolves in sheep’s clothing out there. Read up on the Word. Test everything (including this blog) against its truth–every idea, belief, opinion, thought, attitude, action, concept, system, structure, and everything else. Don’t believe everything you hear, but cling to the Word.

And make it a habit to bring your Bible to church with you. Your pastor could be wrong for all you know.

In a time when everyman and his dog is vying for the attention of the masses, it seems absurd to suggest that the local church should be following suit and add their two pence worth to the equation. Marketing is a cut throat, back stabbing, cutting edge industry that can make or break an organisation.

To suggest that the church be involved with or take a lead from this monster of an industry is surely wrong…

And yet willingly or not the local church is in the middle of a promotion campaign. Does your church have a sign? You’re marketing. Does your church have a weekly bulletin? You’re marketing. Whatever the public sees of your church sends out a message.

Remember that the goal isn’t to introduce slick and polished business marketing that ruthlessly targets pockets and cashes in on souls. That’s marketing that sucks. But lousy clip art and typos are just as bad as glossy photos of people prettier than your congregation. The goal is being authentic and effective.

So the question isn’t, should we market ourselves?
The question is what will our message be?

Of course, marketing won’t change peoples lives, it won’t turn the lost to Christ. Only the same Biblical message we have believed and preached from day one will do that. But as a body of believers we have some responsibility as to how the message comes across through the church.

Why does a church put together a leaflet or brochure which looks like its been slapped together in Microsoft Word in about ten minutes with the end phrase “that’ll do”… Will it? Leaders don’t put together a youth group, pick a few people at random, shrug their shoulders, walk away, saying “that’ll do” – wake up, its important!

It doesn’t take vast amounts of money, you don’t need to be a highly trained designer or a marketing expert. It just requires the church to care and to think about what they are saying to the local area.

Christian cheese is not acceptable!

I stride into through the church car park, head raised high. My trusty Bible tucked under my arm as if to stop the world and its germs from infecting it.

I pass through the doors, shake hands with the welcome team with vigour, ensuring they catch a glimpse of my glorious book of truth. Yes, you saw it. Your eyes fixed in a hypnotic trance as if my Bible had a supernatural glow about it. Know me by my Bible!

I stride forward with purpose. “Good morning Pastor”, my Bible switches hands to indicate the heaviness of it, pastor of course will appreciate the severity contained on those pages make it quite unbearable for the average church-goer. But not me of course, I see in Pastors eye, the glint that means I’m being seen as possible eldership material. Know me by my Bible!

I gaze around the fellowship, and receive some nods, though its obvious due to my Bible, I am in a state of deep mediation already, and no-one would dare disturb it. Yes that’s right, King James Version. Of course its bound in real leather, if you’re serious about your spiritual welfare what else is there? I tut at the students mingling, noticing there worn, tattered and somewhat basic Bibles! When will they grow up and take their Christian lives seriously??!!! Know me by my Bible!

I find my seat near the front (the closer to the front the more spiritual you are). Its close enough that the preacher will feel the glare from the golden edged pages of my supremely superior Bible. I smugly flick through the pages, pristine, neat. Of course I have highlighted key verses with symmetrical precision, though you understand not for my own purposes, just so you are aware of my holiness. Know me by my Bible!

I see your admiring glance, I know what you are thinking. Indeed, my Bible is twice as thick as yours, that would be down to the in-depth concordance in the back which puts me right up there with Mr Piper and Mr Graham. I’m sure one day I’ll get around to using it, but the important thing is that you know I have it. Know me by my Bible!

Time to leave church already? Best do the rounds, cup of tea in one hand, Bible of epic proportions in the other, lets mingle!…Best get home for dinner, here in the boot of my car do I lay my wonderful, my beautiful, my book of deepest, fiercest theology so elegantly put together for my enjoyment – see you next Sunday dear friend!

“Small world”, we exclaim when somebody is somehow linked to our life experience, as if we didn’t think the bubble that surrounds us wouldn’t ever be penetrated. The theory you may be aware, is called six degrees of separation. The theory goes, that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries.

The modern day equivalent is known as the Christian Slater to Kevin Bacon game: The idea is the same except theoretically two actors can be linked together by a number of films.

If you’re a Christian, you’ll be all too aware that the Christian/Church world is even smaller, which is why on most sunday mornings, after the service, over a cup of tea and a digestive you’ll hear plenty of “oohhh really”, or maybe a “noo, I used to go to the church’s youth group”, throw in to the mix an occassional “is he preaching at (insert church name) now?”

Now I have been to a fair few churches in my short Christian life and I haven’t come across one where somebody hasn’t heard of or been connected to Mr Geoff Gobbett. I currently attend a church in South Birmingham, and wouldn’t you know, two different people have come under the ministry of Geoff Gobbett.

Now perhaps you don’t know Mr Gobbett. He isn’t famous as we understand famous. He’s no John Piper. He doesn’t lead a mega church. But anybody who has had anything to do with the baptist/evangelical church in London will have come across Geoff Gobbett. He is a true modern day bible heavyweight. He and his wife Christine have worked tirelessly, in london churches for over 30 years. They have served the Lord faithfully, without complaint - when it comes to church life, there is nothing they haven’t seen!

So here is the Christian version of six degrees of separation. Introducing the Geoff Gobbett Principal. You may not know him, you may not have heard of him. But I guarantee I could connect you to him within, hmmm…. lets say 4 steps. yes thats right 4 steps! Somebody somewhere, who you know, will know Geoff Gobbett - I guarantee it.

Someday you’ll come across his name and someone will tell you about him, and when you do… remember… you heard it here first!

You’d think church youth groups were a safe zone, no gossip, no cliques and all those petty annoying things that made school so harsh. But alas, that thinking would be wrong – and of course the mix of these things are amplified in one of the most nerve-racking times in any youth group members life – the camp experience!

Now firstly, I loved going on camp – I was saved wonderfully on camp (ah the wonderful days of teen camp in sevenoaks). But usually the camp goes down hill as soon as you leave the church and continues to plummet until the leaders are tearing their hair out, ready to go home for a rest. The camp can be broken down into several key areas:

The bus ride:
Waiting in the church forecourt, being assigned your seat for the journey to camp has always been horrific – will you get the cool car? Or will you be selected for the outcasts and geeks bus? It was a lottery! It’s the veritable rock and hard place – your either being slapped round the head by one group or playing some complicated card game with the other, is there no rest??!!!! And you can bet that everyone else was having a riot, your suspicions would be confirmed when on arriving your mates say something like “can you believe what Mark said at that petrol station? That was hysterical and so true.” And you’d ask what he said, trying to distance yourself from your troop of losers and they’d say, “Oh never mind, you had to be there.” Camp was going to suck!

*on a sidenote – if you’re fortunate enough to be in a van being driven by someone who a)can’t control kids and b)shouldn’t be driving such a large vehicle on account they can’t see over the dashboard, the situation can be salvaged. Even better if their directional sense is awful and relying on their assistant for directions. Stand up and take bow dad! Mr Peter Millist, you may be a wise old owl, and a modern day bible heavyweight, but you get a special mention as not only being said driver but managing to end up at Gatwick airport instead of sevenoaks camp. Hurrah!

The Prank(s)
It’s half way through camp, everyone’s getting along, the leaders are starting to relax and then it happens – BAM! Some wise guy thought it would be funny to put jam in an elders daughters bed. Screams, tears, accusations, name calling, all hell breaks loose! Of course no-one confesses, but now lives the fear of retaliation, the leaders are on nightwatch, the kids sleep with their eyes open and every inch of food that is consumed is inspected thoroughly. Camp will continue like this as does the growing dread of the youth leader as they realize they will have to apologize to the elder. Years later you will discover that the culprit was one of the leaders, a wolf in sheeps clothing, the perfect crime!

The Grub
Ah, the cooks and their ability to whip up a feast with nothing but a piece of bread, some peas and a parsnip. They were the A-team of the kitchen, only Jesus himself could beat them in the catering department. Two words: Mince meat. Monday, shepherds pie. Tuesday, lasagne etc…. Basically it was the same meal dressed up with a potato or a thin layer of cheese, rumbled!

The End
Its done, the weeks finished. On come the tears, the guys look on rather uncomfortably as the girls go for it in the crying stakes. You promise to stay close and email every week. Of course you don’t, perhaps you’ll add them on facebook. What’s his name again?!!

Yes, God wants us to be compassionate and kind and tender with each other. Not only that, but he wants us to love our enemies and serve our neighbors. As long as there is no body on body action.

I’m talking of course about a “full frontal hug,” one of those sinful abominations where you just wrap your arms around a friend and embrace them.

That’s why Christians the world over have pioneered the “side hug.”

In the side hug there’s no risk of two crotches touching. Instead of face to face, you go side to side, putting your arm around the person and your hip against theirs. Still having a hard time mastering it? Pretend you’re taking a photo and you’re both looking at the camera together – and mouth the words “arm around shoulder, squeeze, release”. The side hug, is safe for the whole family, friendly and above all holy. I don’t know the exact scripture reference but try the book of Psalms.

It may be that the person you are hugging (the huggee) is large on top (you know what I’m saying here – don’t make me spell it out!) and there is a risk of breasticles squeezing up against the male chest (when not in church, I hug my female friends extra tight!), no problem – just employ the side hug, brought into play for this very situation.

Of course its even more perfect for the always awkward guy to guy hug, do they mean more to you then a hand shake but not quite as much as some full on hugging action? Never fear the patented church side hug is here! Unless you’re from the streets, then you can go for the uber cool handshake and then pull it in for the chest to chest – that’s old school keeping it real!

Though I have to admit, I’m a bit partial to a high five – it has a two pronged attack: 1)It’s an energetic hello and shows genuine joy to the receiver, especially if you mix it up with a run up. 2)Once finished your left with that high five greeting, after glow, it’s magic.

But if in doubt the “church side hug“ or the “Christian half-hug” comes with the liberating tagline: “All the satisfaction, half the lust.”

Good times!

Well its holiday time again - and that means the bible conferences are out in force!

If you’re not a regular visitor to one of these events give it a go! Theres no better holiday then spending time with other believers and learning more about Father God everyday.

Here’s a quick run down of the most popular

Cheltenham Bible Festival
Formerly known as Caister and then Pwllheli. The event is run by the FIEC and is always a great time. Solid Bible teaching guaranteed, though suffers from the fact that not everyone is on site together as in previous years.

Spring Harvest
Possibly the biggest and most popular conference - run in different locations and different weeks, bible teaching and contemporary worship can be found here.

New Word Alive
Born out of Spring Harvest and the ‘old’ word alive conference, New Word Alive is run by UCCF and Keswick Ministries and has only been going since 2008. With a strong student following (though the event is not exclusively for students) I think this conference will go from strength to strength (Any event that has John Piper and Don Carson speaking must be decent!).

Keswick Convention
Of course Keswick Ministries has its own annual Bible Conference, which has been run since 1875 (possibly the oldest event going). A host of good speakers is always guaranteed.

Aber Conference
EMW’s very own event in Aberystwyth (Aber - ah I see!). Great speakers in the past, Rico Tice, Stuart Olyott etc… Another great, well organised event.

Leading Edge
Event run by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in warwickshire - had speakers like Philip yancey in the past.

It seems most of the conferences take place in Wales - is that because it’s a holier land??!!
Well whatever the reason you can be guaranteed a restful and spirit filled time, I wholeheartedly recommend you give it a go.

I thought to myself the other day, when I’m old and grey, I want to look back on my life and be able to say - I lived!… so in aid of this I’m posting on here different things I will try to do before I’m 30 (maybe a bit past that as I’m edging towards that anyway!) (NB Some of these things may have already been ticked off now)

-       Set a guiness world record (anything, in fact the more peculiar the better)

-       Swim with Dolphins

-       Run the marathon

-       Kiss a girl in a thunderstorm

-       Visit New York (and shop!)

-       Have a dance off with someone in a public place (and for it to get ridiculously bad)

-       Appear on TV

-       Do Glastonbury

-       Watch a football match in all the major European countries

-       Sky dive/parachute jump (hhmmm, may have to review this one)

-       Climb the tallest peak in Britain

-       Cycle/drive Lands end to John O’groats (Road trip!!)

-       Play at The Valley (I can dream)

-       Drive a very expensive sports car (anyone have one??!!!)

-       Be in a ‘live TV audience’

-       Coach a kids football team

-       Own my own company

-       Visit the Holy land

-       Tell that special someone how I feel

-       Visit my family in Australia

-       Learn how to cook

-       Become a model (a shoe model or something!)

-       Meet Johan Cruyff (Greatest footballer ever.. FACT)

-       On my 30^th Birthday throw a party and invite everyone that has been part of my life, past and present.

-       See the northern lights

-       Go on Safari

-       Dive with sharks

-       Watch Charlton at a major final (More hopeful than anything)

Anybody have anymore suggestions?

Far too often, when I take it communion, I let the whole experience wash over me. Not that anything magical happens in taking communion, but it’s a time of remembrance - of what Father God allowed on our behalf and of what Christ carried out and endured because of what we have done, because we needed a way out of our sin infested lives.

And yet there I sit, wanting to rush off home - “it’s been a long week”, “I need some ‘me time’”. Shame on me, missing the whole point of why we have communion, willing to brush aside the very foundation of my faith! The best I can muster is a couple of minutes reflection and a thankful prayer, but lets face it as soon as I get home it will be forgotten as I am consumed with thoughts of the week ahead.

So this post on the reality of the crucifixion is for those who easily gloss over what it cost, for those who take for granted what took place, for those like me:

Pilate had Jesus flogged. The usual procedure was to bare the upper body and tie the hands to a pillar before whipping with a three-pronged whip. Then Jesus was led away and turned over to a group of soldiers who stripped him and put on a robe. They twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it upon Jesus’ head, though I wonder if it was so much placed as pushed into his head, lets face it he wasn’t exactly favoured! He was then struck time and again, resulting in a face covered in bruises.

In Isaiah 50:6, the Lord said, “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.”

The plucking out of the beard and hair would cause great pain and these soldiers would be very vindictive, so I believe it is likely that the man on the cross did not have much beard or hair left. If you have ever seen the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe I think this gives a good picture of it.

Due to the punishment that Jesus received, He could not carry the cross all the way to Golgotha..

And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the Country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. Mark 15:21

Mark is writing to those who knew all about crucifixion. They knew that the condemned carried their own crosses to the place of execution. So, why the change here? Why didn’t Jesus have to carry His own cross and another man was ‘compelled’ to carry it? Jesus was simply unable to carry his cross because he was beaten so badly. From what Mark has told us before it leaves us with no doubt. Here, Mark is letting us know that, even before the actual crucifixion, Jesus suffered greatly.

And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. Mark 15:24

Most, if not all, of the pictures of the crucifixion that you have seen are significantly inaccurate. In them you see a man clothed only in a loincloth, hanging on a cross. In reality, there wasn’t even a loincloth. The condemned were completely stripped and then put on display to all passers-by. And that was in a culture that was far more modest than our own. Do you see what Mark is saying by this detail in the picture? Jesus not only suffered great physical pain; He was also humiliated by the cross.

‘And it was the third hour when they crucified him.’ Mark 15:25

Mark is quite simple here. He just mentions the fact of the crucifixion without any details. Yet to the first readers this simple statement was filled with anguished meaning. If you were condemned to be crucified you would be laid on a couple of pieces of wood with your arms spread wide. The soldiers would then take a nail and drive it through one of your wrists and into the wood. Then they would do your other wrist. They would then take your feet and lay one on top of the other and drive a nail through the ankles into the wood. I think that the goal was to drive the nails through bone since that would support the weight of your body better. Then they would hoist up the cross with you nailed to it and drop the end into a hole in the ground.

Your body would viciously pull at the nails. Now death was not a quick affair caused by loss of blood or the like. Instead, it was a slow matter brought about through exhaustion and ultimately suffocation. If you let your body hang from your arms your diaphragm could not work.

As a result, you could not breathe. And so, you would push up with your feet. Actually, you would push against the nails with your ankles so that you could breathe. But the pain in your feet would get to be so bad that you would have to stop pushing and hang from your arms. But then you had to breathe and so you would push once more from your ankles.

This would continue until you were so exhausted that you could no longer push with your feet. Then you would die a suffocating death. It was a slow process. Jesus took six hours to die. Pilate was surprised that He died so quickly. Do you understand what Mark was painting with those words, ‘… and they crucified Him’?

And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. Mark 15:23

The treated wine was offered to the condemned in order to dull the senses so that he wouldn’t feel the pain quite so much. It was the closest thing to a shot of morphine or a dose of some pain pills. But Jesus refused the wine. He refused the opportunity to be relieved of some of the suffering. Why? Wasn’t He aware of how painful it would be? Oh, He was quite aware. But Jesus also knew that He needed to suffer the full torment of the cross.

The point of the cross was not the physical suffering for Jesus. It was not His physical torments that paid for our sins. The penalty for sin is not merely physical suffering. The penalty for sin is hell, eternal death, which is physical, emotional and spiritual suffering.

Hell is the undiluted experience of God’s wrath against sin. It is much more than just physical suffering. The cross is only a picture of the endurance of that wrath. But because it needed to be an accurate picture of that experience Jesus’ physical suffering could not be blunted by some drug. The cross pictures Jesus’ spiritual suffering of God’s wrath and that suffering was not blunted in any way. Jesus had to pay the full price for your sins. He had to experience the full wrath of God. And that’s why He refused to take the wine.

So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Mark 15:31-32

This sounds like the words of ridicule. But they are much more than that.They are the words of temptation. These are the words of Satan.

Jesus could have gotten down from the cross at any time. Remember how He said that He had twelve legions of angels at His disposal? He didn’t have to go through with it. And that’s especially true as the pain, both physical and spiritual, became greater and greater. It was then that He hears these taunting words. He could, at that time, very easily have said, ‘That’s enough of this! I don’t want to have to deal with any of this any longer’, and then just come down off the cross, just as the chief priests had said.

Think of it. No more pain. Vindication before His accusers. Who could doubt him then? But this is exactly what Satan wanted. This was his last chance to thwart the Son of God. Tempting Him to change stones to bread didn’t work. Tempting Him with an earthly kingdom didn’t work. Maybe tempting Him to come off that bloody cross would work.

Thus the taunts. ‘Well, if you really are the Son of God come on down off that cross.’ And yet, He didn’t fall for Satan’s ploy - tempting as it must have been! He had to suffer and die if he would provide our salvation. So, He endured the taunts and the temptation and stayed on that cross.

These are probably some of the most famous words in the world. ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me.’ The cry of dereliction. Jesus was betrayed by one of His own apostles, abandoned by those to whom He invested the last three years of His life, denied, not once but three times, by His closest friend. And now, forsaken by His God. His Father left Him to face the horror of the cross alone. But it had to be this way if there were to be any salvation.

But Christ on the cross goes even beyond the physical…

(extract from ‘When God Weeps’ – artistic licence used, but still very effective)

The face that Moses had begged to see - was forbidden to see - was slapped bloody (Exodus 33:19-20). The thorns that God had sent to curse the earth’s rebellion now twisted around his own brow….

“On your back with you!” One raises a mallet to sink in the spike. But the soldier’s heart must continue pumping as he readies the prisoner’s wrist. Someone must sustain the soldier’s life minute by minute, for no man has this power on his own. Who supplies breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells? Who holds his molecules together? Only by the Son do “all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). The victim wills that the soldier live on - he grants the warriors continued existence. The man swings.

As the man swings, the Son recalls how he and the Father first designed the medial nerve of the human forearm - the sensations it would be capable of. The design proves flawless - the nerves perform exquisitely. “Up you go!” The lift the cross. God is on display in his underwear and can scarcely breathe.

But these pains are a mere warm-up to his other and growing dread. He begins to feel a foreign sensation. Somewhere during this day an unearthly foul odor begins to waft, not around his nose, but His heart. He feels dirty. Human wickedness starts to crawl upon his spotless being - the living excrement from our souls. The apple of His Father’s eye turns brown with rot.

His Father! He must face His father like this! From heaven the Father now rouses himself like a lion disturbed, shakes His mane, and roars against the shriveling remnant of a man hanging on a cross. Never has the Son seen the Father look at him so, never felt even the least of his hot breath. But the roar shakes the unseen world and darkens the visible sky. The Son does not recognize these eyes.

“Son of Man! Why have you behaved so? You have cheated, lusted, stolen, gossiped - murdered, envied, hated, lied. You have cursed, robbed, overspent, overeaten - fornicated, disobeyed, embezzled, and blasphemed. Oh, the duties you have shirked, the children you have abandoned! Who has ever so ignored the poor, so played the coward, so belittled my name? Have you ever held your razor tongue? What a self-righteous, pitiful drunk - you, who molest young boys, peddle killer drugs, travel in cliques, and mock your parents. Who gave you the boldness to rig elections, foment revolutions, torture animals, and worship demons? Does the list never end! Splitting families, raping virgins, acting smugly, playing the pimp - buying politicians, pracitcing exhortation, filming pornography, accepting bribes. You have burned down buildings, perfected terrorist tactics, founded false religions, traded in slaves - relishing each morsel and bragging about it all. I hate, loathe these things in you! Disgust for everything about you consumes me! Can you not feel my wrath?”

Of course the Son is innocent. He is blamelessness itself. The Father knows this. But the divine pair have an agreement, and the unthinkable must now take place. Jesus will be treated as if personally responsible for every sin ever committed.

The Father watches as His heart’s treasure, the mirror image of himself, sinks drowning into raw, liquid sin. Jehovah’s stored rage against humankind from every century explodes in a single direction.

“Father! Father! Why have you forsaken me?!”

But heaven stops its ears. The Son stares up at the One who cannot, who will not, reach down or reply.

The Trinity had planned it. The Son endured it. The Spirit enabled him. The Father rejected the Son whom He loved. Jesus, the God-man from Nazareth, perished. The Father accepted his sacrifice for sin and was satisfied. The Rescue was accomplished.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11

You’ve heard that phrase, ‘lays down His life’, so many times. But now that you’ve seen Mark’s picture of the crucifixion I hope that you understand better what that means. Think of the shame of being on display, the pain of the nails, eyes swollen almost shut, most of his beard and hair torn from his head. The crown of thorns twisted in his scalp, the Saviour of man hanging on a tree not much good for anything else, struggling to breathe, the abandonment, the wrath. All of that is included in that short phrase.

Jesus says, ‘No one takes it [His life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.’ John 10:18

Jesus was not at the mercy of Pilate and the political scheming of the chief priests. Jesus wasn’t tr

apped or forced to the cross. He laid down His life of His own accord. It was His choice. Jesus endured all that the cross meant willingly. Here, remember the taunts and the jeering. ‘Come down from the cross, Jesus, then we’ll believe. Some Messiah you are. Ha!’ But bear in mind why He did this, why He laid down His life. ‘The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’ He did it for you. For me.

I pray I never forget what took place at the Cross.