Plot Twist Week 3

When Sin brings death, Jesus gives life.

[INTRODUCTION]

I want you to show me how you would react to these real life plot twists by moving around the room.

You wake up to learn your phone didn't charge overnight.

You find $5.00.

Your parents tell you you're moving.

Your dog learns to talk and tells you your breath stinks.

Your crush likes your most recent post.

You turn on the news and see your friend getting interviewed.

You win free tickets to a show you've always wanted to see.

You win free tickets to a show you've never heard of.

You find out you're allergic to your favorite food.

Your best friend tells you they're sick of you.

Your friend gives his magical time stone to the most dangerous villain in the universe.

Okay, that last one probably isn’t going to happen in real life, but when it happened in a Marvel movie, it was a pretty mind-blowing plot twist.

If you saw the movie, you know Thanos was trying to get all six infinity stones and by getting them, he would have the power to destroy half of all life in the universe.

He was successful in gathering the first four, but the fifth stone seemed well protected by Dr. Strange. The only way Thanos could get the stone would be for Dr. Strange to willingly hand it over. But we knew our hero would never let that happen…right?

Earth’s mightiest warriors, and a few of their alien buddies, had a chance to prevent the universe’s greatest threat from accomplishing his evil plans. But then Dr. Strange just handed over the power in order to save his friend! What?

You know Thanos got the six stones and erased half of a life in the universe.

Sometimes plot twists make us feel like we have run out of options like the hero’s of the movie.

Sometimes things feel ruined beyond repair.

Maybe you have experienced plot twists like this...

You worked so hard to achieve a goal, but still failed.

You watched a relationship fall apart, no matter how hard you tried to salvage it.

You made a huge mistake and are still dealing with the consequences.

You learned new information that made you realize the world is a lot more broken than you thought.

Sometimes we are faced with plot twists that make us feel like things are broken beyond repair. So when things feel hopeless, is that the end of the story? Or could there be hope for something more?

[TRANSITION]

Last time we saw some of the ways sins can create death and damage, both spiritually and physically, when Jesus was betrayed by the people who used to love and follow him.

Some of the people who betrayed Jesus were strangers, but at least one of them was one of his best friends.

As a result of those betrayals, Jesus was arrested, charges were invented against him, and he was unjustly sentenced to death.

John 19:1–30 (CSB)

What happened to Jesus was horrifying. Jesus wasn’t a criminal. He wasn’t violent. He had never harmed anyone - but his message had intimidated the people who were in power, so they were eager to see him killed. As a result, Jesus was...

Beaten.

Made to wear a crown made of thorns.

Mocked by soldiers and the crowd.

Forced to carry his own heavy execution device.

Murdered in a public place where crowds could watch for entertainment.

Jesus suffered and so did his friends and followers. They knew Jesus as someone who healed the broken, set free those in bondage, and redeemed what was lost. But now he was being killed and there didn’t seem to be anything anyone could do about it.

Death is the final chapter in every human life and everyone in this city on that day watched Jesus take his final breath.

The story seemed to be over. Jesus’ enemies seemed to have won. Sin seemed to have won. Jesus seemed to have lost.

Days after his public execution, Mary, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, went to visit Jesus’ tomb. She didn't show up expecting a new chapter in the Jesus story. She was there to mourn the story she thought had just ended. Jesus’ followers were grieving the loss of...

Their friend.

Their hope.

Their identity.

John 20:1-18.

When they found out Jesus’ body was missing, this wasn’t immediately good news. It seemed like one more sick plot twist. They didn’t think, “maybe he’s alive,” because that would be impossible…right?

We just celebrated Easter in which we celebrate the real plot twist that the disciples didn’t know they were waiting for. Jesus was, and is very much alive. Death didn’t have the last word after all.

This plot twist wasn’t just for Jesus’ friend back then. It is for us today too, because Jesus is still alive and still defeated sin and death.

In the midst of death, grief, and hopelessness, Jesus has the power to change the story by bringing life and hope into dead and hopeless places.

When sin leads to destruction and brokenness, it doesn’t always seem like there is hope for change or redemption. But with Jesus, there’s always one more plot twist in the works. What happened on that first Easter Sunday is proof that when sin bring death, Jesus gives life.