JESUS—THE BRIDGE TO HOPE

(S1) —

Humanity has long been in search of the unknown - searching in hope for what is beyond our world into the depths of space.

Artemis 11 is traveling 250,000 miles, the furthest distance humanity has ever ventured into space. its name honors the Greek Moon Goddess taken from Greek mythology.

We should be amazed at how again human ingenuity has surpassed itself. But, let us not miss the extraordinary, out of this world, HOPE of Easter

—in FACT Jesus traveled from heaven to earth to bridge the gap between a righteous God and a fallen world.

Most people know the WHAT of Easter — Fewer people know WHY it matters!

(S2)

If you’ve ever felt yourself stranded on this side of life, when the daily struggle is real…or in all your striving for more you still feel empty…

EASTER IS HOPE— Its when God built a bridge between us and Himself

— A BRIDGE BUILT ON THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Easter is when Jesus became the BRIDGE to the other side of OUR human story.

PRAY

(S3)

Brian Welch (Korn) lead guitarist for the band Korn. Sold millions of albums. The life most people would want. But behind the scenes, it was falling apart. His deep drug addiction was a constant cycle. He had money, fame, everything the world says should make you happy, but he was completely empty.

It all came to a moment in his living room. His little girl was there. His life was out of control, realizing that, “If something doesn’t change, I am going to destroy her life too.”

That’s where it got real. No stage. No crowd. No music. Just him, broken, sitting there, he cried out to God—Not polished. Not religious. Just honest. “God, if you’re real, I need you. I can’t do this anymore.”

Then something happened. Not overnight perfection. Not everything instantly fixed. But he said it was like something shifted inside of him. For the first time, he wasn’t alone. He walked away from the band. Walked away from the lifestyle. Walked away from everything that was destroying him. And he began a completely new life. Clean. Restored. Present as a father. Growing in his new found faith

Jesus didn’t just improve his life, he became the BRIDGE from who he was to who he could never become on his own.

Easter Hope is Mary’s story

She came to the empty tomb grieving, confused, and broken, not understand what it meant

— Then, she encountered the RISEN CHIRST personally, and EVERYTHING CHANGED

Its when JESUS became the BRIDGE to the OTHER SIDE of HER story—WHY Easter matters

(S4) {John 20}

The Empty Tomb—part 1

SLIDE

At this point in the story, Mary has just been observing (11)

(S5) Part 2 - First Sighting

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How do you come to Easter today?

— Running...can’t wait to hear about Jesus alive?

— Wanting to see but afraid to look inside?

— Ready to look and discover what it means to truly believe?

Or, like it was at first to Mary, is it just a good story—wanting to just stand back, observe. Not quite ready to hear what Easter can mean for you?

(14) Then it all changed—when Mary personally encountered, not with the gardener, but Jesus!

Mary was not the only one. Its a pattern we see throughout the Bible

— In his 3 years, Jesus had touched many lives. Those that had a story; their life before...and after...

Woman Jesus met at a well-the heat of the day-avoid the judgment of her neighbors

— After meeting Jesus she left he life and became a bold evangelist to her entire village.

Man with leprosy In total social exile, Jesus did the unthinkable by touching him.

— The encounter restored not just his skin, but his humanity & his right to live with his family again.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John ordinary fishermen—their encounter was a literal career change

— from "catching fish" to "fishing for people," from common laborers, to disciples...to Apostles...and foundational leaders of the early Christian movement

Levi: a tax collector, he was viewed as a traitor working for the Roman occupiers.

— Meeting Jesus meant walking away from a lucrative but corrupt life—Matthew, follower of Jesus, who authored one of the four Gospels.

Saul of Tarsus a high-ranking religious leader persecuting Christians, became the most influential missionary in history, after an encounter with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Damascus.

(S6) —

Before she met Jesus, Mary’ life was a mess—We know little about her...just that it was of profound spiritual and mental torment.

— (Luke) Jesus was with his disciples, telling people about the Good News. Among them was...

Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons

Her life changed again, when she met her SAVIOR alive, standing in front of her—when Jesus spoke her name

(20)““Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

Her eyes opened; filled with hope, she became one of Jesus’ most devoted followers—witness to the resurrection, and following him to the cross

But, I am still God

Jesus changed Mary’s life that day, the WHY of Easter, then he can as well change ours? But, there is a problem, chasm between us and God; one we cannot cross it on our own.

How Jesus is the bridge to hope (3)

(S7) —

I. A BRIDGE BEYOND THE GRAVE

TAPE MEASURE

Two sure things in life—DEATH and TAXES—“The fact is, the mortality rate for humans is 100 percent.”

“I go to bed every night under the assumption that my family and I are safe from fire. Likewise, most of the world goes to bed at night under the assumption that if they were to die in their sleep, they would find themselves standing at the pearly gates.” Andy Stanley

What is your exit strategy? Do you want to take that gamble...roll the dice or be sure about eternity?

Romans 10:9 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

When Jesus walked out of that tomb DEATH had lost and life had won—He not only rose, but he rose victorious

(S8) — {1 Corinthians 15:55}

A more familiar Bible passage—“For God loved...

Jesus is the BRIDGE BEYOND the Grave—

Second way Jesus is the bridge to hope

(S9) —

II. A BRIDGE BUILT ON FORGIVNESS

I don’t know if you noticed, but you and I aren't perfect!

— Since man and woman’s poor choice in the garden...SIN has been a CHASAM TO DEEP TO CROSS—a burden we all still carry today

Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

My encounter with Jesus in a personal way (3 steps)

— First, a step toward the love of God

— Second, was coming to terms with sin in my life

— Third, was finding forgivness

From that day Jesus became the bridge connecting my story to God’s

Our challenge with SIN—its easier to look at everybody else's, by avoiding our own

MIRRORS TELL ALL

The simplest definition of Biblical SIN

(S10)

It means MISSING THE TARGET (MARK) OF GOD’S INTENDED BEST—FALLING SHORT

SIN is a CHASAM TO DEEP TO CROSS on our own— without Jesus no amount of good can ever fix that

Romans 3:10 “No one is righteous— not even one.”

Jesus had to die...so we could get right with God—he rose from the dead so we would know the HOPE of RESURRECTION that is possbile in our own lives!

Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Good News—There is no distance you fall to far from God, no mistake you can make, that can’t be forgiven.

— The whole story of God is Him wanting to bring us back to himself. Jesus is the BRIDGE built on FORGIVENES

Third way Jesus is the bridge to hope

(S9) —

III. A BRIDGE BUILT ON GRACE

Has life ever felt like your stranded on this side of a deep chasm

A Hamster wheel of life?

No real peace or fulfilling purpose? Always searching for more... but its never enough?

— ever feel burdened with shame—carry the weight of guilt —a past hurt or loss you can’t see your way beyond?

Story about a man most people would never notice. He wasn’t famous. Just a regular guy. Worked hard. Took care of his family. Showed up every day. But inside, he was carrying a lot. Regret from decisions he had made. Distance in his marriage. A quiet sense that something in his life wasn’t right.

On the outside, everything looked fine. On the inside, something was missing. One Easter, he came to church. Not even sure why. And he heard something simple. You don’t have to fix your life before you come to God. You come to God, and He begins to change your life. And for the first time, it clicked. Right there in his seat, quietly, no one else even noticing, he got real with God.

— He admitted where he was.

— He believed Jesus was who He said He was.

— He confessed his need for a savior Nothing dramatic on the outside. But, covered with the grace and love of Jesus, everything shifted on the inside. And over time, his life began to change. His marriage started healing. His peace started returning. His purpose started becoming clear.

Not because he figured it all out. But because he stepped onto the bridge of hope in Jesus

There is a chasm that we can’t cross on our own...

Ephesians 2:8 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”

There is no sin too big—no sin unforgiveable, no hurt unhealable, no relationship unrepairable, no shame or guilt unrenewable...

nothing can seperate you from the love of God when you put your life in his hands

THE WORLD MAYBE A MESS...BUT OUR LIVES DON’T HAVE TO BE! Mary Magdalene the lone woman at the tomb is evidence of that.

— there is a bridge BEYOND the Grave—GOOD PEOPLE DON’T GO TO HEAVEN—ONLY SAVED PEOPLE DO

— Built on FORGIVENESS...

— Built on the GRACE of God...

Jesus did not just show the way. He became the way.

(S10) — {John 14:6}

John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is the bridge beyond the grave...the bridge to forgiveness—A bridge built on grace

VIDEO

This may not be your story but...

— Someone here may feel broken...feel stuck...or far from God.

— Someone here may look fine, but something is missing on the inside

— Many here I know have faith and believe...but you still feel empty

Jesus is HOPE—the bridge to the other side of YOUR story

— The question is: will you step onto it? Easter meets you right there, right here, right now as Jesus calls your name?

(S11)

The invitation Getting real with God is simple.

Admit...your need

2. Believe...Jesus is who He says He is

3. Confess...and put your trust in Him

You may know the WHAT of Easter...but do you know WHY it matters?

— Are you ready to take the next step into a relationaship with Jesus who is the bridge to hope?

GOOD NEWS - Jesus’ death was not permanent so our mess doesn’t have to be either!

...nothing can seperate us from God's love...

JESUS IS THE BRIDGE TO HOPE—HE CAN BE THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR STORY...