4 Miracles of Easter 1 - Darkness

Final Warning – to the world

Final Offering – of Grace

Final Revival – of the church

Final Harvest – of the lost

Summary:

Easter could represent the final events to the church before Christ’s second coming.

The Last Warning of Jesus – Echoes to Us

Luke 23:27–31 NLT

27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Luke 23:32–33 NLT

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

· Christ Taunted While Tortured = End Time Church Treatment – Luke 23, Matthew 27, Mark 15

· Jesus forgave from the Cross

Luke 23:34 NLT

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.

Easter Events Occur from Top Down

· Heaven to earth – God to man

· Sky – veil – rocks – tomb

1 – Mankind has Wasted Time

· Mankind had three- and one-half years of walking, talking and learning from the Son of God personally in human form, something that all the Old Testament kings and prophets longed to see, but never did.

Matthew 27:45 NLT

45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.

2 – Mankind is Running OUT of Time

· Final Passover = End of an Era

· Jesus First Advent ended the Priestly age

· Jesus Second Advent will end the Church Age

Noon = Passover procession began

3 pm = Sacrifice

It was at this moment that Jesus (OUR PASSOVER LAMB) cried out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30).

Last Passover = Last Days

· historic – unique – never repeated again –unusual

· gradual, then sudden

· unexplainable darkness - no natural reason for it - come out the blue

· unexpected

· global – covered all the "land."

3 – Mankind Must REDEEM the Time

Challenge to the End Time Church – REPENT!

Light overcomes the Darkness

John 1:4–5 NLT

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Personal Challenge: Make Up for Lost Time

· Whatever you’re going to do for God, do it now!