It’s the darkest before the dawn

Today we want to take communion together. I want you to see something and to be encouraged that when things look bleak, when it looks like things will not work out, when it looks like all is lost, there is always hope.

In fact sometimes with God it can look like defeat before the victory comes.

From Luke 22:7 – 23:56 it starts with the Last supper and goes seemingly down hill from there.

·                     The Last Supper (we know that a person on death row before execution also receives a last meal)

§  Reminded he would die

§  Someone would betray him

§  Peter would deny him / Peter denies it.

§  They argue who will be in charge when he is gone

·                     Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives  

§  Jesus in agony

§  All fall asleep

·                     Jesus Arrested  

§  Judas betrays him

§  Peter cuts of the servants ear

·                     Peter Disowns Jesus  

·                     Jesus before Pilate and Herod  

§  Falsely accused, tried and condemned

·                     The Crucifixion  

§  Abused, beaten, treated like a criminal

§  killed

·                     Jesus’ Death  

§  He is dead

§  Seems final

·                     Jesus’ Burial

§  He is buried

§  Three days no sign of hope

Philippians 3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, NIV

·         I want to know Christ

·         The power of his resurrection

Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. NIV

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NIV

Jesus is amazing, he is the answer and the hope that no matter what happens, if we will walk with God, the outcome will be good.

Amazed video

Communion