Psalm 130; Mark 2:5-12, 14:32-36
June 18, 2017
preached by Doug Cooper
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“Modern guilt, I’m stranded with nothing

Modern guilt, I’m under lock and key

Misapprehension turning into convention

Don’t know what I’ve done but I feel ashamed.”

~ Beck Hansen (1970-present), contemporary musician and record producer

“I don’t want to forgive myself. That’s why I hate psychoanalysis.  I think if you’re guilty of something you should live with it. Get rid of it – how can you get rid of a real guilt?”

~ Orson Welles (1915-1985), American actor, director, writer, and producer

“Much of the impotence of American churches is tied to a profound ignorance and apathy about justification. Our people live in a fog of guilt. Or just as bad, they think being a better person is all God requires.”

~ Kevin DeYoung (1977-present), American pastor and author

“To be convinced in our hearts that we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God by grace alone is the hardest thing.”

~ Martin Luther (1483-1546), German professor of theology, author and seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation

“When Satan tempts me to despair

And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free.

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me.”

~ Charitie Lees Smith (1841-1923), Irish-American hymnwriter, excerpt from “Before the Throne of God Above”

Sermon Passage

Psalm 130; Mark 2:5-12, 14:32-36 (ESV)

Psalm 130

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
² O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
To the voice of my pleas for mercy!
³ If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
⁶ my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
⁸ And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Mark 2

⁵ And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,⁷ “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹ “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” ¹² And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Mark 14

³² And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. ³⁴ And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” ³⁵ And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”