Living as Easter People (The Cross)

Living is Easter. People do we live as Easter people? And it's not just on Easter Sunday. Today is the 9th of April. It's a particular die. In a particular year, the 9th of April, 2023. Maybe you need to mark it in your calendars. Because I want to ask I'll be living as Easter people. No, I want to do a little bit of a, let me call it a little bit of research as I as I share this this morning sometimes something's coming. What is the policy coming out?

And then sometimes will be reviewing off the event. What happened?

Someone to give you a bit of a preview and a post View. And then I want to look at the Easter story. Restart in Jeremiah. 31. Verses 1 through 6. I'm glad he shall be my people. That's, that's the law of the people who survived. The sword found Grace in the wilderness Israel. When I gave it to him rest, the Lord appeared of old to me saying, yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love that for with loving kindness. I have drawn you Okay, and I will build you a child be rebuilt over Virgin of Israel. You shall again. Be adorned with your time the Rings and you should go for in the dogs. You should do. You should rejoice. You still say plum Pines in the mountains of Samaria. The plums are so plump, and each of them as ordinary food, will that shall be a day when the Watchman will cry on Mount a friend arrives, and let us go to Saint. So the Lord, our God is a time when we need to talk.

So when we celebrate that day we celebrate tonight, I hope your day was prophesied before. It wasn't something that you knew. I have to go to. My said that, was it. I shall be a time. We know how to celebrate

Are we going? We celebrate with maybe some people will don't, you don't see why don't you? By the way we had a celebration last Sunday. Anybody remember what that celebration was? The Latin group was 3 years old. Yes and there was a big cake said, congratulations on that. You may have seen it in this life before the beginning of the service. Are they sang?

We know how to celebrate. So what are we celebrating today? Are we truly Easter people?

It's sometimes it's very easy to get the wrong idea about celebration In the war in 1944, that was a British soldier who was cold brazzell Spence. And as he was in the as he was that in the battlefield, he turned to someone. He was an architect in the Indies in peacetime. What are you going to do when the war is over? I don't know what do you know, the name by suspense? But he said I'm going to be able to proceed to another happen to be in the cathedral built in the UK for centuries. I've been you Cathedral for a long time. He was the architect who designed Coventry Cathedral Buddy's being to Coventry Cathedral of the ruins. That is still that I'm an ounce of the ashes of this is Cathedral comes. The new cathedral is the most beautiful, cathedral, one of my favorite, the peaceful, The Wolverine Korean. And it was first performed. You see, these beautiful stained glass windows of the wall and if you look on the floor, you will find pennies in the floor. There are old pennies. I'm going to be stuck in the floor. When I used to sing in Coventry, Cathedral as I was singing to keep us in line, has no roof upon it. Now, there is a cross that I'm not crossed is made from the roof. Beams of when the church was burnt down and those beams fell to the ground, they landed like a cross-state there in the ground and then in the middle of that cross, the to Niles as a sign of the offer from the original roof. Beams of the cathedral in Brussels spent said, I'm going to build a cathedral in the cathedral built in the UK Simpson Pools by 350 years earlier. I'm passing Spence was filled with inspiration, he won a competition, they wasn't just, he was appointed, he wanted competition to design, come with your case, designs won the prize, and it's one of the most beautiful peaceful places.

He had Direction, he had in 10, he had purpose and celebrating with Jesus out with Jesus. They been talkin with him and then he was accused and then he was brought before Pilate, and then he's crucified, they went from a great place to walk into the city together and celebrating their savior that teacher.

And now, he's crucified. Confirm that great High to a great low. Now we have the privilege of hindsight instead of full site, which we, we we read in here in Jeremiah. We have the privilege of hindsight. So, let's look at some things I've done. Is we've done two acts 10:34 233, Pizza, open this mouth and say, in truth, I perceive that God shows us no partiality, but in every nation, whoever feeds him and what's righteousness is accepted by him the word, which got sent to the children of Israel preaching, peace through Christ, he is Lord of all that the word, you know, which was proclaimed throughout began From Galilee after the baptism, which John had preached how God has anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit. And with power, you went about doing good and heating oil who are priced by the devil or God was with him. And we Are Witnesses, we are used to people of all things, which he did was in the land of the Jews died in Jerusalem, who make killed by hanging him on a tree. Him. Raised up on the third day and showed him openly, not to all the people, but two witnesses chosen before by God. Even to ask you ate and drank with him. After he rose from the dead and he come Monday to us to preach to the people and to testify that he's he who was a thing by God to be judge of the living and the dead to him all the prophets witness that through his name, whoever believes in him will receive freedom and remission from sins. No, that's replying. So they can look back, like I say this is the story but when we get to Easter we can imagine. And I play that beautiful recording of Friday is here, but Sunday is coming.

Retire from that place of desperation of hopelessness of wear it, so lost to a place where he is risen.

I'm not going to read all of the Let me just take us that Festival but I'll point you to John chapter 20 verses 1 through 18. I'm not going to read all of them but let me just start off the right now is the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early and being taken away from the to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them, they have taken away the Lord out of the Tomb. And we do not know where they have laid him, piece of that for went out and the other disciple may be going to the 2. So they both have ran together and the other day and change the tune first. And he sleeping down and looking in. So they're getting clothes-lined. I guess he did not go in and saw me a pizza came following him went into the tomb and saw the linen cloths line that and the handkerchief to being around his head. Then another disciple who came to the two first Wednesday also. And saw and believed. Well, as yet, I did not know the scripture that he must Rise Again from the dead. And when the disciples went again, so that I own homes, but Mary stood outside the to weeping and she wept, when she stooped down and looked into the two, and she saw two angels in white sitting, one of the head and the other of the Fate, by the body of Jesus and a lion and a sexy woman. Why are you weeping? And she said to them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have lightning. I went, you said that she turned around and saw Jesus standing that and it don't know. That it was Jesus. Jesus said to her woman, why are you weeping whom are you seeking? She supposing him to be the god. That sets himself, if I, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have to fight him, and I will type and I will take him away. Jesus said to her, Mary, she turned and said to him which is teacher and this is what I want to pose in the story.

Miss these questions woman. Why are you weeping? Why do we weep? We wait because of lost three weeks because of sadness. She was weeping because she said, I do not know where they have laid him.

now, we've got the complete story beginning, during and afterwards, but part of the challenge is The Wendy's kind of things happening. All walls cynicism tells us who will go on as before, nothing will change.

It's so easy to say it's all going to be the same in this moment in history everything everything changed the cutting in the temple was torn into this weekend was so significant. So cynicism aside, what is going to be the same account change? Has anybody been in the place of desperation by you wanted something to happen? And it didn't happen and we stopped to think what we just going to live with that. That's the way we can be changed. We can be changed in the moment in the twinkling of an eye. Despair can tell us the road is coming through end table. What's the point in keeping on?

It's so easy to give up the practice of the disciples as they Institute Fayetteville. Tell us to look after ourselves.

But this is the Big Bopper. Imaginative. Hope gives us courage. What if he truly rose from the dead? Princess Mary, and she recognizes his voice? She turns to him and says teacher.

Imaginative. Hope gets off, eyes off the trouble of the worry of the impossibility of the Cross into the empty cross and the empty tomb.

Friday is here, but Sunday's coming for from Hope. Springs miraculous expectation.

If Easter Trudy Hortons and I'm asking that question because I know that will be people who were listening to that. I was still asking that question. If he's the real deal if Christ really rose from the dead then what difference does it make brothers and sisters. I wouldn't say she would make every difference. It makes a difference cuz Christ who was the sacrificial. Lamb has paid the price for you and me and consequently through him we have access to the father and so it doesn't matter what we've done three Christ's be on the empty. Empty Crosby on the empty to through Christ to the father because our father, our loving God, loves us that much that he sent his one and only son, he did not respond. So I didn't have another son. He had one son, he's mine was Jesus and he sent him to this for you and for me I'm so from that from the imaginative hype uses terrigen from Courage. Come to miraculous expectation.

In math. Matthew chapter 28 verse that it says, is he is not, here he is risen.

He is not here.

So when Mary is often do you seek? I want to ask ask the question is, who do you think?

Is it Jesus? He is the answer, he is the way he is the truth and the life.

Exercising, John 14. No one comes to the father, except through me Christ gives us access

I'm sorry. This scripture is the scripture that I want to pull this all together on because I think it's so powerfully strong for us this Easter Christ life. Showed me twice. Life showed me how I know you want me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. He's no longer essential to me. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion. And I am no longer driven to impress. God, Christ lives in me. The life. You see in me, living is not mine, but it is live by faith. In the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. This truth is truth at work in our lives means that we look at the world. Differently means we serve our neighbors are friends, strangers, different.

What is a dead person? Look like the tune. They knew where the tomb was, but the stone was rolled away. What was the body look like willing? You what Jesus look like but he was beaten and broken. It was a man. Did I tell you that? She likes watching casualty of those moments. When there's something happening on the table is scalpels and immediately.

Yes, and you buddy? I'm so they were looking for a broken Christ. And then has e as he greets Marian says Mary. She looks at him and she recognizes him straight. So, I do you recognize Jesus today. Do you recognize that he's calling you and me again. So, leave more like him.

God, so loved the world that he sent his only son. I need was crucified in a dreadful one. I need them to die. That was conflict, right? Where this happens, even to Die, the news. This morning, whenever I got conflict in Jerusalem, At Jerusalem is a place of conflict cuz that's the place that Jesus Christ died on the cross. But he rose again, even in our mother still having conflict as a consequence of mankind.

They would tell us to do Costco, sell cynicism aside. Well, thank you about. Give out what's the point. I want to say Easter 2023. let's leave behind the things that are of that unless you forward to the things that are of life, add Arizona channel, promising to channel life for you. And for me, The kingdom of God has come to this earth through Christ, Jesus. Ask the disciples ran to the two. They were excited to see to find the body of Jesus and when they found nothing I just jumped into confusion but what I can cite for us today is Christ life. Showed me and enabled me to do it to live out a life that he's different to live out a life. That is full. It's God's kingdom here on Earth. So let me cry.

All I want to play Fast Lord. as we focus on these two, as we go take communion together today, otherwise, we will do that today in remembrance of the Lost, sock, remembrance of what you did for us on the cross at Calvary, you could have stepped down off that cross you could have walked away so you Jesus but you didn't you look to your father and said If It Be Your Will and it was our father God's will. You paid the price for us and we want to say thank you tonight. Thank you, Lord.

We want to live in the reality of Resurrection Life.

Less of ourselves and more of you.

Less of a spirit and more abuse. List of all purpose and more of your purpose and more of your ways. All the help us to lift our eyes up a rhyme circumstances up to you. Other one we stop to see all cells. Reflect yourself. Reflected in US you start to realize that we have been changed. By the power of the cross. By the power of the resurrected Christ, and the price paid for eternity For All Mankind.

Play Father God, we come to you. We come to the foot of the cross and we look beyond the cross to where I'll save you a spot. He was like that too. But then we look into the tomb and see that it is empty. He is no longer here. He has a reason and even went Christ went to the disciples in the other room and knocked on the door. And somebody said it's Jesus is how can it be Jesus? We saw, we saw him crucified on the cross, Jesus, I want to see, I want to see people, it's Jesus is Jesus who died for you? It's Jesus who paid the price for you. And for me, it's Jesus. Who went to the cross and suffered in dignity and shame on our behalf. But it's the father who caused him to rise again from the dead. Leaving behind the impact of sin and death. The price paid once for all for each one of us, it doesn't matter how bad we feel Christ. Has played in a Eight is Enough.

It is enough. It is enough. How does Easter people? We will keep our eyes fixed Heaven would we will keep our eyes lifted up. We will choose to Hype Eternal and hope courageous. We will choose to leave behind season cynicism and doubt an adult with a cloak of spice. Not fair of love, not despair of joy, not sadness.

Help us to be more like Jesus. We pray.

Baby, thank you for the privilege to give into your kingdom. Father, we thank you for the opportunity to serve you a work-at-home. What do we get paid for it? Or not love with you receive the offering of the work of our hands and all lips and all mines. Father help us to be good and please help us to be good servants, helped us to be good work as we pray, the Lord. As we bring these gifts, as the fruits of our harvest, the fruit of all later, we look beyond our policies. It works ultimate wolf.

Baba, we bring these gifts to your God. Would you receive them from grateful? Thankful Hearts? Would you help us has a chips to use them for your glory? Lord. Would you multiply that? Which we've given father God about the help that be great fruit for the kingdom. Grapefruit into others lives right through into our community. We Prime All the way. Thank you for the new connections. You do my king to us and with us, nor With The Wolves by some man dies in, as he bring you people to us. We thank you for all that you're doing and father, we pray that you receive these gifts for your glory in Jesus name.

Thank you very much for us today. For real. Debbie said, your sister a reminder.