For The Joy

Hey, man. Once we enter into the Easter series the Easter season. The celebration of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus we're entering into a time that is being culturally appropriated. away from Jesus

the trivial

the ridiculous bunny chocolate eggs pastels Yeah, that's some just staying in my voice.

We enter into this season. And the world wants to tell us what it's about, but it's our season.

That's not what troubles me the most as I enter into this season as we enter into this season what troubles me the most?

He said it's very very possible for you. And I

Become overly comfortable. with the story of Easter because we hear it so much because we celebrate it year after year because we develop routines and traditions. We just become almost numb Easter time yet. Jesus died Jesus rose again.

with all my heart I want to celebrate Easter this year like I'm hearing it for the first time.

With all my heart. I want you and I answer answer not a season not a tradition not a practice, but I want you and I to see the resurrected Jesus this year together. Maybe for the first time but for sure in a fresh way. Cuz his mercies are new Every Morning a man.

There's something so tragic about our ability to become comfortable.

With the reality that our sin.

our sins were so

Brooke

that the only way to put them back together with the death of Jesus. the Spotless Lamb of God

What is dark this morning in Matthew chapter 26, this is on that last day of Jesus's Freedom, you know many of these stories he and his disciples celebrated the Passover meal together. Jesus washed their feet and then as they 80 introduced what we now celebrate his communion the the broken bread the cop his body is blood that Jesus informed his disciples that one of them was going to betray him and if that wasn't bad enough not only with one betray, but all of him would abandon them. They argued with them, but I don't know about you. I discover that arguing with Jesus's.

Not the easiest thing to do. He always wins, right? Afterwards Jesus leads them out. They go into enough room here. They come out of their from he teaches them. He encouraged has them. He Comforts them. He's the one going to the cross and he's comforting them. Then Jesus prays over them John 17 High Priestly prayer of Jesus, beautiful. after all of that after the end of a very long day at the beginning of a really long day. Verse 36 says it's Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples sit here while I go over there and pray. I'm taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. He began. To be sorrowful and trouble.

Don't rush over that. Let it sink in. Jesus sorrowful and trouble he said to them. My soul is very sorrowful even unto death. I think about that. Think about this is Jesus. Jesus Pooh the wind and the waves obey Jesus calls out demonic and evil spirits and they do whatever he tells them to do Jesus who not once but on multiple occasions took the hand of a dead person and said wake up and big did.

This is the Spotless Lamb of God. This is the one whose only done with the father told him to do who said everything. The father asked him to say this one. Now says to his closest friends dudes with me.

Play with me. Because my soul is very sorrowful even unto death.

What are the other gospel writers let us know that any in his in his intensity of prayer he began to sweat blood? Something that's actually medically possible. It takes unbelievable intensity and anxiety for the stress off of your blood pressure to raise so high the capillaries burst and you begin to sweat blood

This is not a bad hair day. This is not extra long commute because traffic backed up on the 10. This is absolute Soul crushing despair. It hurts so bad. I'm so scared. I'm so distraught. I think I'm going to die. That's where Jesus is at that moment.

That's uncomfortable for some of us because for many of us we've been raised knowing that Jesus is God. And we we forgotten are we haven't learned the reality that Jesus did not come and live his life as God. He surrendered his divinity in order to come as a man. He humbled himself to live as one of us. Jesus didn't do the things that he did because he was God Jesus did the things that he did as a man filled with the spirit surrender to the will of God.

Rush over this don't go out. You just got he was here as one of us. No temptation has come upon you that he can't understand cuz he's been there.

This is a moment of absolute Despair and distress for Jesus. So says a would you guys what you just remain here with me and watch and pray?

And then we get some insight into the Heart of Jesus in his prayers is going a little farther. He fell on his face and prayed saying my father up

if it is possible. Let this cup pass from me. Listen to what Jesus is praying an absolute prayer of honesty father. I've always done what you asked me to do. I've always said what you told me to say. I've I've been completely faithful and obedient.

I don't want to drink this cup.

I think it's a reference to the wrath of God. I think it's a reference to all that's coming up because I don't want to do that if there's a plan B if there's a plan see you ever been in that negotiating mode with God.

I want you to know it's okay to express. your fear you're worried your anxiety it is okay to ask. Jesus dead If it's wrong to express that to God then Jesus would be wrong. If God's not afraid of your doubt God's not God's not going to be surprised by your fear or you're worried all your anxiety.

Jesus knows what's hat? And most of us I assume all of us know what the head we know what Jesus is facing and it is mind-blowing. When you really think about it. Jesus is going to experience the ultimate of physical Agony and pain the Romans had mastered the act of torture.

the infliction of pain The degradation of the human being and ultimately their death. Jesus knew he's going to be betrayed by a friend with a kiss Jesus knew he's going to be hit struck macht lied about he knows that he is going to stand before the Romans and he knows what the Romans do. What the Romans did is almost incomprehensible to us in our culture? The Romans had mastered flogging Jesus almost certainly knew he was going to be flogged what's logging? Thank you for asking. They would strip him naked in a Public Square that would bind his wrists together. They would hang him on a hook so he could barely touch the ground and then a Roman trained in the art of inflicting pain would take a scourge of a whip with mini leather. string strands string sounds too weak on that. Attached to each of these would be led ball maybe hooks shards of glass anything that could inflict pain. And then beginning at the top of the shoulders and working his way down the back that Roman soldier would begin to strike Jesus. Over and over and over at first, I mean it hurt. the skin begins to bruise and crack but they kept going and going and going juice had a lot that you could only do it 40 times. But the Romans that they this is the Romans. The Romans would Scourge you until they got you to the point of death. And then they would let you down. By the time they were done whipping the back of Jesus his back. Wouldn't have looked human. We're not talking ripped skin. We're talking ripped muscle tendons bones battered pools of blood running down his feet pooling on the ground. Jesus was taken to the point of death then but they're not done then they begin to Mock and and and ridiculed him there. His back is a bleeding open wounds. They take a purple cloak. They put it around his back. They said they take some Thorns were familiar with thorns here on our way. They Jam a crown of thorns on his head. They begin to mock him and kick him and say dollar save yourself all look at the king of the Jews.

Well, then they're not done then they bring a heavy Cross Beam. They put it upon his shoulder strap his arms to it. And he begins the long walk towards Golgotha the hill of the skull. You can't make it I got to get somebody to help him to carry it there when he arrives. They begin the crucifixion. Jesus knows this is coming. Easton crucifixions all of his life the rum they didn't invent it but they perfected are they loved it? Because it was an incredibly excruciatingly painful way to die and it took some time.

Jesus said I would lay him down on the ground on top of the Cross piece and they would take a wooden and iron Square nail didn't put it in his palms. I wouldn't hold anything right right in his wrist. They're right in that is at the medial artery and all that right there right through there. both arm then they take that cross piece. They set it on top of the post. The Roman soldier with intake is left will put it on top of his right to take another iron Square nail jamat right through his feet. And then the pain really began.

Don't don't don't rush over it. No call yet. Jesus died on a cross. Jesus died on the cross What happens in crucifixion you get up there? There's intense pain you're hanging there with spikes in your wrist that just pains flaring up through all your nerve endings. It's on fire until you begin to push up with your legs to relieve the pain in your arms with the moment you push up with your legs that pain starts shooting up on your legs it so begins this constant back-and-forth you fall down you push up you fall down you push up as you fall down though, you're able to bring air into the pressure the weight of holding your body begins to constrict in your lungs. Your pectoral muscles become paralyzed. You cannot XL You begin to suffocate on the cross.

Eventually the CO2 builds up in your bloodstream. It removes the cramps enough so that you can push up again. Which NFL football team? because once you push up again you take in that are whole thing starts all over again.

Over and over pain upon pain upon pain upon. This is what Jesus was facing. So it is no wonder that on that night. He says Lord if there's another way

Do you think that's bad? That's not the worst thing. Jesus was facing. because the physical pain was ridiculous and terrible the spiritual pain facing him. Would far out out when Eclipse anything. Because on the cross Jesus wouldn't be punished for his sin. He didn't have any but on the cross my Sonata not just some of it not just once all of mice and not just mine cuz I ain't the only sinner in the room.

I'm not just our sins, but the sins of the world.

And the wrath of God against sin would be poured out Upon Jesus on the cross on the cross. He would know what it means to be separated for God my father my father. Why have you forsaken me? Not because kids are different because we'd you. Find the cross Jesus would feel the full weight of evil of sin of death T would take it upon himself and drink it dry.

Don't judge him. When he says father if there's another way.

Can we do that? I don't blame them.

I understand that.

like Jesus got off and asked me to do stuff. I don't want to do have you noticed that yet.

He asked me to give up sins that I actually enjoy.

He asked me to love people that I don't really want to love.

He asked me to sacrifice. He asked me to risk he asked me to die to myself and I don't particularly want or enjoy doing that many. If not, every time God asks me to do something. He asked me to do something that I'm not capable of In My Own Strength.

So when I read this account of Jesus going to the cross and going farther at this is this is too much father if there's another way.

My soul resonates with that.

So I want to know I need to know how Jesus proceeded how do you get from there to actually going through in obedience to a god asked him to do?

And it's found in the end of this prayer. Father is there possible. Let this cup pass from me. Never the laugh.

not as I will but as you Nevertheless not as I will but as you will this is Jesus says I got here is where I'm at how I feel if there's another way I want to do it. But at the end of the day. It's your way not my your agenda not my your will not mine nevertheless. Here's my heart. I mean I'm being open. I mean authentic I'm being honest. This is where I'm at. But at the end of the day. What I want is what you want not my will but yours be John at those, maybe some of the easiest words to say

But maybe some of the most difficult to actually pray. Many of us have been raised in church environments that we don't pray your will be done. We pray. Well, here's my will and in the name of Jesus. I wanted to happen. Return the gospel into the gospel of immediate instant gratification for our well that ain't the Gospel Church.

Not my will but yours be done.

I'm reading that again this week the question that comes to my mind is how does Jesus say that? How does he get from I don't want to do this. There's got to be another way.

whenever the last not my will but yours be done. How does he get there? And the answer that I want to give you this morning is from Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12 1 2 4 Start out this way. Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses receive there for you to look back to what came before it chapter 11 of Hebrews, but it's really all of the chapter 11 chapter of faith is it describes face and it's and it demonstrates to the lives of all the men and women that have come before us what it means to live in faith. read chapter 11 answers

Without their hope being fulfilled they were waiting for something greater. the guide Does therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses? Let us let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

That is a race set before you. And that's the one you got to run. You don't got to run somebody else's race. You got to run the race set before you God knows you got formed you in your mother's womb God. Has you been created in Christ Jesus as God's workmanship his Masterpiece and God has created Works in advance for you to do you're here. You're still breathing air. Your heart is still pumping because God wants you here for something in his kingdom. There's a race set before you. How do you run that race with endurance? How do you cast aside everything that slows you down and hinders you how do you keep going?

pursue tells us looking the Jesus

we look to Jesus look into Jesus is the but the object of our faith. We look to Jesus when we're weak when we're scared. When were trouble when were frustrated when were confused. We look to Jesus. We don't look too Oprah. We don't look the doctor filth normal to your pastor. You look to Jesus first. Looking for Jesus. He's the object of our faith the founder and Perfecter of our faith pizza stores of our faith. You don't must have faith on your Jesus. He is the author and Perfecter of our faith. Jesus my faith is weak help me Jesus. My faith is struggling help me Jesus you gave me faith in the first place. I'm trusting that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion the Christ Jesus Jesus help me Jesus.

The author and Perfecter of our faith the source of our faith. Who for the joy? Did you hear that sir? Sorrow? make some for and I The Joy comes in the morning

Look to Jesus. Perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the Throne of God. How did Jesus Say Never the last in the garden for the joy set before him? Because he's he's not just the object of our face. He's not just the source of our faith. He's the model of our faith. He shows us how it works. How did Jesus run the race before him? How did Jesus endure the shame of the Cross didn't by looking forward to the God love surprises.

For the joy set before him.

Paul says I am convinced that our light and momentary troubles. I giggle every time I read that. Cuz Paul is skirts by the Romans. Not once not twice multiple times. Paul was stoned and left for dead. Paul was Shipwrecked Paul spent most of his adult life in prison. For the Gospel of Jesus and puff we look at public like that happen to me. And plus I like this light and momentary troubles in no way with her. What's a passing Glory that is to be revealed in Jesus Christ Our Lord for the joy set before him before you we endure and run the race set before us not easy race. Not a simple race not the race of my choosing. I don't get to dictate where the race takes me right the pace of the race. I get the race that God puts before me and no matter what it is. Good bad the ugly everything in between for the joy set before me.

kiwi We think that Easter is about what happened 2000 years ago. Easter is about what happened 2000 years ago that secures the future of the kingdom Easter is not about the past Easter is about the future what happened when Jesus died was tragic what happened when Jesus rose from the dead was amazing, but it was just the beginning. He's the first fruit is the first one that comes back from the dead free from the power of sin. And if there is a first fruit there's a lot more fruit to follow. One day I will be raised from the dead not because of anything I've done but because of Jesus Christ because Jesus rose from the dead.

that is the hope of the Gospel Phil what happened that you stir guarantees of future that is far better than anything that's come before so as great as the death burial and resurrection of Jesus if I'm convinced in every bone in my body that The Best Is Yet To Come The Best Is Yet To Come I know it hurts and I know it's hard but if Jesus

Could endure the shame and pain of the cross for the joy that was set before him. As a man empowered by the spirit.

That same spirit. Things about Jesus the Same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in our mortal bodies.

Is there a race too hard? Is there a course to difficult? Is there a sin that he cannot break? Is there an obstacle that he can't get you through?

For the joy set before him. Jesus endure our church this Easter. May we see? courage faith absolute conviction of Jesus that no matter how bad it got

with God all things become possible

search what a glorious savior we have. What an incredible Gospel of Hope? Search The Best Is Yet To Come. Whatever is going on in your world. Your life is great right now. Enjoy it. The recognize there's people in this room right now. Their world is falling apart. When you're strong, they need your strength because one day those tables are going to be turned. Why we come together. It's why the church is in the heart and the will of God we weep with those who weep we Rejoice with those who rejoice and we encourage one another. As long as it's called today. Stay in the face. For the joy set before him. Jesus and door for the joy set before us may we pray with Jesus? nevertheless not my will

but yours be done.