The Bridge from Loss to Life (Resurrection Hope)
Keep going. Don't you prepare this world than you spoken to her alone? We want to have a heart open and ready to receive speak to us with your spirit. So God we pray in Jesus name. Amen.
Good morning and happy Easter.
A theme this month is resurrection. Hope that hope that we have because that, which was said, the one who is says, came back to life. Jesus, whose name means God Saves is the Son of God, who died to pay the price. For our sins. A price. Which included separation from the one true God? Our Father in heaven. Then he rose again. Hallelujah. Thought between death and resurrection that can be a gap in Jesus case it lost it 3 days for us. It might not be little. But for example, the gap between the death of a long-held dream, A New Hope, directions.
That cat can be painful. A know where in the Bible are we invited to deny pain, but to deny it at the power to Define us. We all who God says, we are in the Bible and his word. Is it tunnel? In the Old Testament, the book of Lamentations focuses on suffering loss and hopelessness to the mint is to feel intense. Aura is so grave. When did nominations 321, we come to the bus with, which I want you to start, that's limitations 321. But this I call to mind vessel by have hope. But this I call to mind the full might of Hope. Interesting Lee the Hebrew word for Hope will send means to wait. I'm by implication to be patient to expect this cycle to mind. That's where I wait patiently and expectantly, despite have second thoughts his look. What do you call two minds? That brings? You hope when it looks like All Is Lost. It might be reminding yourself of God's character of who he is. Maybe his faithfulness in the past. You might remind yourself of sudden promises in the Bible he's would maybe that he's made to you personally will pass through a process through someone that someone else. But nature is active on our part. We got to choose what we call to mind. It's all decision to call to mind. Whatever it is, that causes us to Hope. Sometimes depending on what we doing with, we just have to make it really simple for ourselves and call to mind, phasic trees. For example, Psalm 23 and verse, I do read it from the classic Amplified translation, Psalm 23 verse 1, the Lord is my shepherd to feed guide and shield me. I shall not lack. It doesn't matter what it looks like. It doesn't matter what it feels like. I shall not like because that's it says and numbers. 23 19. God's not, the man said he doesn't lie, he's not human so he doesn't change his mind before I shall not lack. Because the Lord is my shepherd.
Someone said to me recently that she knows she has a tendency to overthink things, it's probably something that we can all do at times, will they? Some of us may have more of a tendency to it than others? It's learning and practicing to focus on the Promises of God. More than what we see or think. But not overthink things, but to keep it simple. That's not denial of the facts but the faith that the truth of God's promises has the power to change the facts. But this I call to mind that awful, I have hope. So, for example, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not like that fast. Jesus said in John 10 verse 11 and I'll read it from the NIV. John 10 verse 11, I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd, lays down his life for the sheep and invests 18, no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and flirty to take it up. Again, this come on. I received from my father and this is what we celebrate his hisa, Jesus, obedient to our Heavenly Father, to lay down his life and take yourself again. He died to pay the price for Austin's. Every time we break the law of love. Love God, love others. Love ourselves at 12:30 a.m. When I say loving ourselves, I don't mean in a self-centered way, but is it in the sense of following ourselves because both of us, it's so important that we learn to Value ourselves. The way that he does. Jesus is the reason that we have a bridge between loss and life. and expect Express and what is probably the most famous fast in the Bible, which is John 3:16.
Wells. Betty gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him, shall not perish. But with means to be destroyed or given over to Eternal misery and how whoever believes in Jesus, shall not perish, but have eternal life. So this is what Jesus did. He had a last meal 9 as the last supper with 12 disciples whom he had chosen approximately three years earlier, cost of praying all night at your coat is in 6. They were to be his closest Companions and learn his ways. This was so that they could teach others the truth about God. Our heavenly father who is love and how to live his way in this world before going to be with him forever after dying. One of those 12 Judas betrayed him to the authorities which ultimately led to his death. The way that Jesus was betrayed, makes it even more painful. Matthew 26 versus 48 to 49. That's Matthew. 2648 to 49 in the Christian. Standard Bible says, his betrayal has given them a sign. The one I kiss, he's the one arrest him. Send Me Gently, he went up to Jesus and said, greetings Rabbi, which means teacher and kissed him Just to clarify cases, we use them friendly, greetings, including respectful, greetings to ones teacher. For Superior, it might have been a kiss on the cheek or even that finger ring either way betrayal with a kiss, was particularly evil. Jesus knows what it's like to be betrayed by someone close to you and that's why he can help us and sustain us if we experience betrayal by someone close, he's being there. Jesus was without sin so he can help us to do with betrayal, like heated in a way that is healthy and doesn't cause further Problems by the house before anyone else. We can forgive because he has forgiven us. He helps us We're at constructed to forgive others. As we have been forgiven in various places in the Bible such as Ephesians 4:32 It's also in the middle of prayer that Jesus gave to his disciples when they asked him how to pray. Matthew 6:12 and 1 translation, the complete Jewish Bible, Matthew 6:12, says figures, forgive us what we have done wrong as we to have forgiven, those who have wronged us, The New Living Translation. Puts it this way, forgive us, our sins. As we have forgiven, those who sin against us, And it goes on to say and verses 14 to 15. If you forgive those who sin against you, you'll have only father, will forgive you, but if you refuse to forgive others, your father will not forgive your sins. That may sound harsh, but God is just God is love and God is wise. Noticed forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision. and one that we may have to make repeatedly depending on the seriousness of the situation and whether it's ongoing or the impact of it is ongoing, If we don't forget, we hurt ourselves as well as others. Because if unforgiveness is it is left to Fester, it becomes between us. The problem with bitterness is a destructive emotional state, it creates and its impact on relationships, faith and potentially even office of physical health. All Spirits, All Souls on minds and our emotions and our bodies are all connected. So the health and well-being of long can definitely effects another as I've heard it said, do yourself a favor and forgive Jesus filled with betrayal and with his help. So I can weigh
After Jesus was arrested, he was physically brutally beaten as well as mocked and ridiculed. This Behavior. Violated all official. Ancient legal. Aspects will do we practice effusive prisoners with Coleman? But dull, Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council to formulation official charts for Pontius Pilate. Pontius pilate's was the Roman governor of the province of Judea who said from approximately 26 to 36 LED interesting with its capital Pilot presided over the trial of Jesus such as it was. Set the Sanhedrin brought Jesus before, Pilate and does. It says in Luke 23, verse to Luke 23 verse 2, they began to accuse him saying we found this man, leading our nation opposing payment of taxes to Caesar and saying that he himself is the Messiah, the king. It was a combination of lies and Truth. Jesus was not misleading, the nation or undermining Laura noder as it says, in The Message Bible and he said, he didn't have his payment of taxes to Caesar that took place, Italy, recorded, and Matthew 22. But, yes, Jesus did say he was the Messiah because he was, and is and eternally will be the Christ, the one anointed of God, and he didn't do not who he was. Jesus injured over us, including the lies and the twisting of the truth and therefore can help us if we're faced with anything similar. There are promises in the Bible for us to help us to deal with any and every situation that we might face. It says, for example, in Psalm 23, verse 11, the mouths of liars will be silenced. I strongly believe that the Lord wants me to mention her or whether the lord gave me for a friend, not that long ago, because it contains Trace such as not just for that person. I got to reach for my side. He one of us is 10:50 and I'm reading from the Amplified translation. I saw a full sheet 1 verses 10 through 11, Do not fear anything. For, I Am With You. Do not be afraid for I am. Your God I will strengthen you be assured? I will help you. I will certainly take hold of you with my righteous right hand. A Hand of Justice of power, a victory of salvation. Indeed, all those who are angry with, you will be put to shame and humiliated those who strive against you will be as nothing. As I Was preparing, I noticed something that I hadn't seen before in verse 11. All those who are angry with with you will be put to shame and humiliated, his present tense will be his future, is it gap between the two? And I'm back to what I said at the beginning about the bridge between death and Resurrection, we bridge, the gap between present and future by holding, on to the truth of God's word that gives us at Resurrection, hope the bridge from Lost to life. To be honest, the bridge maybe longer than we would like and feel like one of those bridges that you may have seen Prince on Plum TV or even experience but sway. But actually there's nothing more show.
The truth of God's word will hold us secure and be the bridge that takes us into his future for us. We need to train ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit to walk by faith and not by sight as it says in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7. Back to Jesus trial. Hi. Cool. The charger is against Jesus, baseless, but gave in to Marlborough and had Jesus severely whipped scourged and handed him over to be crucified. He was nailed to the cross by his hands and feet and then Luke 23 verse 34 Luke 23:34, says father, forgive them for, they do not know what they all doing. Spiritually, speaking Jesus was carrying the way to the sins of the world that's unimaginable. If we just consider what we know sending all. Well today, nevermind got to the centuries that you've already passed and even our own. Let's be honest. Jesus is probably exhausted, having been betrayed and arrested at night. Physically beaten mocked taken to the Jewish Council the door. scourged and crucified sew-in Indescribable physical pain to God Alone knows how he must have felt emotionally. Then he says, father forgive them. So they do not know what they are doing. Jesus knew all that she was going through was necessary but he was fully Mad as well as fully God. At these lowest possible moment, Jesus asked for forgiveness, for those involved in his Christ crucifixion because they have no idea of the enormity of what they're doing. I would like to suggest that the power of forgiveness is something that we need to understand by sza. The more we choose to use it regardless of whether we feel like it, the best who will understand it. After Jesus death, he was wrapped in linen according to Jewish burial customs and laid in a tomb. Luke 23 55 to 56 tells us of the women who had to come with him From Galilee followed. And so we're the team was then they returned and prepared spices. Some perfumes then rested on the Sabbath according to the commandant for bidding work. The NIV cultural background Study Bible tells us that Jewish tradition allowed washing and anointing corpse is even on the Sabbath but these women plan to own a Jesus story mode full day after the Sabbath ended. Luke 24 verse 124 verse 1 in the Amplified Bible says, but on the first day of the week on the women went to the to bringing the spices, which they had prepared to finish anointing the body. bearing in mind that the women with swimming, with dealing with emotionally, which can be very tiring, they've been going to help her like If you think of a running rice, when the stars who says, on your marks get size, all the runners are as ready as they can be to get going. As soon as they hear the was gun, it seems to me that these women were like that. The Sabbath has ended at sundown the previous evening, but it wouldn't have been safe for them to go to the two before Morning Light. They couldn't have got up and going any earlier than they did. But such was their focus and desire to honor Cheese's. They were off as soon as they could be.
What does it mean for us to always be ready to honor Jesus? How do we honor him? Eliza is it is catching question for table salt. Melting point again. She suggests that it has to do with Focus. Where is a focus as we go about life, what drives us? What motivates us? The spices, which is the Smith the spices with to diminish the odor of a decomposing body and as I understand it off is an expensive way of showing appreciation. The women had bought a pet the spices spending night, so emotional energy, as well as time on Monday, on doing something to own a Jesus, that was never needed. But it wasn't wasted. It's never wasted when we do something to honor Jesus, but it doesn't work out the way that we intended or wanted. God always sees our hearts. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart as it says in 1 Samuel, 16 verse 7. Got notice that the woman's desire to honor Jesus it's recorded in his word which is eternal and his life and it says, here is an example to us. So the women arrived at the team, I found the stone had been rolled back. A team would have been cut out of rock and was often covered by a disk-shaped drug. Maybe a meter in diameter requiring a number of people to move it. Such a stone lay in the grave so I could not be moved from the inside. But the stone had been rolled away, and when the women looked inside, they did not find Jesus buddy and went to tell the disciples. A couple of the disciples went to see for themselves, then went home again. Let me come to jump. 20 verses 11 to 18 will look at this in a little more detail. John 21st is 11 to 18 and I'm reading to me and Ivy No. Mary stood outside the team crying. Has. She went, she went over to look into the two and saw two angels, and white seated was Jesus. Body had been one of the head and one of the Say, hasta woman. Why are you crying? They had taken my Lord away. She says and I don't know why they put him. But this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He also woman. Why are you crying? Who is it that you're looking for? Thinking he was the God knows. She said, if you have carried him away, tell me why he you have puts him and I will get him. Jesus said to her, Mary. she turned to him and cried out in Aramaic, which means teacher Jesus said, do not hold on to me but I have not yet ascended to the father go instead to my brothers and tell them I'm ascending to my father and your father to my God and your God Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. I have seen the Lord and she told them that he had said these things to her. The box jump. 20 verse 11. Now, Mary stood outside the team crying. Mary stayed at the team and what she gave herself time and space to grieve regardless of what others were doing. Avoiding pain can cause so many problems for people for greater than. She facing the pain itself. Mary gave herself time and was real. She cried and Jesus Meza. The Mary that was the true in a physical sense, but Jesus will always meet us when we real with him. It may not be in a way that we're expecting on there or in a way that we notice immediately but he will The Angels house, Mary? Why she was crying? John 20 verses 13 to 14. They have taken my Lord away. She said, and I don't know where they put him. But this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. Sometimes we feel like we don't know why Jesus has in a painful and difficult situation. Sometimes we don't recognize Jesus presence in the midst of difficult circumstances in particular, or even in everyday life. We may not feel his presence. But that doesn't change anything. We have his promise, he's word from Matthew 28, verse 20 and be sure of this. I am with you always even to the end of the age. The passion translation says I never forget but I am with you everyday.
John 20 verse 15. He asked her woman why you crying? Who is it that you're looking for? I read this. You probably heard the saying it's not what you know but who you know that is important. As a Christian, you will most likely learning that this is Trey. Are you such a thing for something more in your life? Jesus did not ask Mary what she was looking for, but who who he also whom she was looking for? I'm not made all the difference. Knowing about Jesus is important, but it is knowing knowing Jesus, the Risen Savior, but is the most valuable and important element of Our Lives. We need to ask him to help us to know him more funny. B of us-15. Thinking he was the God. No, she said, sir, if you have carried him away tell me where you have put him and I will get him. I can only thing that Mary didn't recognize Jesus because he's resurrected body looks so different, especially to the man who was so badly, beaten that he was unrecognizable. Jesus fulfilled, the prophecies in the Old Testament about the savior of the world who wants to come and this includes the one in Isaiah fifty two verse 14 which says he was. So you just figured that he didn't even seem human and simply no longer looks like a man. John 24:16. Jesus said to her, Mary. I love this first. I came to love it after watching a passion play, When the actor who is playing, Jesus said, Mary's name. There was something in the tone of his voice that really resonated with me. I just heard the love that was expressed in that one word. This something in Jesus. Speaking Mary's name that tells us of relationship. Jesus knew her I'm one of the first words that Jesus spoke often. He had risen from the diet with her name, Mary, how special is that? I always have the love in his voice. When I read that Jesus saying her name, How do we hear his voice? I hope that we hear the love in Jesus name when he chooses for us, when he says all name.
She turned to him and cried out in Aramaic, which means teacher and her recognizing his voice. We see relationship, she knew him when she heard his voice. John 10:27, says my sheep. Hear my voice. And by implication Jesus is saying my sheep know my voice.
John 24:17. Jesus said, do not hold onto me for. I have not yet to send it to the father. go instead to my brothers and tell them I'm ascending to my father and your father to my God and your God
And this is why we have Resurrection. Hope the one who was says, he's risen Because He Lives we live. That's eighteen Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. I have seen the Lord and she told them that he had said these things to her. With whom will we share the good news that Jesus is risen. We need to be bold and we need to be wise and we have the Holy Spirit to help us to be both until trust him when God gives us opportunities to share. So Close by summarizing with just two points. Best Neil Diamond station 321. This I call to mind that full of Hope. What do we call to mind to take? Hold of Hope to keep hold of Hope?
And second day holding, on to the truth of God's word gives us Resurrection hope the bridge from loss to life. I thought to give Jesus the last wet or it's a good thing today. From the last book of the Bible in Revelation, 118 in the new King James version, Revelation 1:18 Jesus says, I am, he who lives and was that, a hose look. I am alive for Evermore.
Let's pray. father God, how can we thank you enough for sending Jesus to die for us because he lives we live Teaches help us, strengthen us to hold on to you and your words regardless of circumstances and live really live in Hope. And For Your Glory because we all skate in Jesus name knowing that you've heard us because you promised. Thank you Lord, all men.
