Answers

Hope

Good Friday poses questions steeped in feelings of hopelessness.

What happened?

What happened to Jesus?

What did He let it happen?

What happens to us? What now?

We’ve all been in situations that seem hopeless. Maybe looking back, we feel like we may have over-reacted.

But, in that moment?

Friday night I talked about situations when we felt hopeless. There didn’t seem to be any answers and we faced some pretty tough circumstances.

Like the time our minivan broke down on the interstate. I had driven all day, 1000 miles from Minot, ND and on our way to Wichita to visit my parents.

It’s after 1 in the morning. We’re an hour from Wichita and an hour out of Salina, the last town of any size in KS. I have 3 kids, 5,3, and under 1 asleep in the back of the van. No cell phone. And the Interstate was under construction where were. No shoulders, just dirt. Semis whizzing by.

It’s pitch black. No truck passing by is going slow enough to see me trying to wave down someone who could help us.

It was dangerous. I felt responsible for my family. There was nothing I could do.

What hope did I have?

Well, a pick up truck pulled over to help. The driver was in his 20s. The truck had a topper on the back and the bed was filled with floor cleaning equipment.

He offered to do whatever we needed.

He loaded us up w/ our luggage and drove us the rest of the way to Wichita.

We were still a little nervous the entire way to Wichita b/c Sara and baby Jared were in the cab while me and our two older kids and luggage were in the back.

If he was a serial killer, he could have done bad things to Sara and Jared and there would have been little I could to stop him b/c I was stuck in the back.

Turns out he was a Christian.

His job was to clean the floors of 24-hour convenience stores in the middle of the night when they were practically empty.

He missed a job that night for us.

What hope did we have? God sent an angel in the form of a guy who cleans floors in the middle of the night along the interstate to pick us up and deliver us to safety.

I told the story of when Jason, our second was born. When I arrived to pick them up at the hospital and take them home for the first time, Sara looked at me w/ angst in her eyes and said they may not let us take him home. He has a heart problem.

As a parent, your 2-day old infant has an issue and when you hear heart, all you can think about is it must be life-threatening.

Immediately we began to look back over Sara’s pregnancy to try to think of time when she might have fallen or had a virus that affected his development. But, there wasn’t anything.

What could we have done differently?

What hope did Jason have?

He has been checked regularly in his life by cardiologists. And, as technology has improved we have discovered he actually has 2 defects. 1 helps minimize the other.

He has a hole in his heart and it’s bigger than we originally thought. But, his aortic foot is enlarged and it fill that hole limiting the amount of blood that can pass thru.

What hope did we have? Would his heart give out sooner than more?

Or, that God, in his own way, would take care of Jason.

Every Christian parent realizes that our children are not our own. They are God’s. He has given them to us to raise for Him.

Sara and I had to let go of Jason and his future long before most parents do their kids.

He’s led a normal life. He has played football, baseball, he runs, lifts weights, and stresses his heart all the time w/out fear.

His doctor says to expect a normal life-expectancy.

So, a couple of years ago, Jason and his wife Kristen had their second child, a son, Myron.

Last week they found out Myron has the exact same defect Jason does.

They suspected ahead of time b/c when they would put their hand on his chest, it felt the same way it feels if you were to put your hand on Jason’s to feel his heart beat.

It goes; thump/squish; thump/squish.

The doctors say that this sort of thing is not hereditary. But, they will also admit they don’t know a lot about the genealogy of the heart.

Now we know Sara didn’t do anything wrong when she was carrying Jason.

And, for Jason, at least he has 29 years experience living with this, knowing what to expect.

But, this time it’s his baby. We’ve talked about it.

What hope does Myron have? Will his heart give out early? It might. But, not due to this.

Jason has been prepared. We’re prepared. God is at work in ways we can’t see.

Ironically, the day before Myron’s cardiologist appointment their car died.

They needed to go to find out the extent of the defect.

Cars never die at convenient times.

It’s never convenient on the interstate at 1 in the morning w/ your kids asleep in the back. Nor is it convenient when you have to get your toddler son to a doctor to find out what you’re dealing w/.

What hope did they have of making it to the appointment to get answers about Myron?

A friend heard about their dilemma and loaned them a car.

Those feelings of hopelessness can creep at any time.

People that we care about that may be dangerously in trouble.

Mights and maybes. Questions w/out answers.

That’s Good Friday.

Good Friday is a hard situation that’s filled with tough questions. And, tough questions with seemingly no good answers breed hopelessness.

But this is Easter.

Easter provides good answers to all of our toughest questions and keeps us hopeful.

This was never God’s original plan. Nothing lasts here. Everything is either born broken or breaks in time.

Easter is God’s answer that gives us hope when things seem hopeless. Jesus overcame the biggest breakdown we face. His body was broken, and it died. But that was not the end.

Is that not what we all fear the most? We are afraid that something so important is so broken it can never be fixed. But, whatever breaks in this life never will in the next.

So our objective is not to have everything we want in this life. Our objective is to get to the next life where we will get everything we want and Easter proves it will happen.

If Good Friday poses questions that stir feelings of hopelessness, then...

Easter provides answers filled with hope b/c Jesus answered the hardest question of all.

That first Good Friday the believers would have been overwhelmed w/ questions that seemed to have no good answers.

Hope? Everything seemed hopeless and it got worse from there.

This Good Friday I addressed 3 questions I think I would have had and they must have had.

Friday was the questions. It’s Easter. Here are the answers.

Answer #1

What Happened to Jesus?

Matthew 28:1–7 NIV

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Friday he died. Friday afternoon they laid him in his tomb.

Saturday was quiet. Emotions spent. Questions posed.

If you’ve lost someone recently, you know what the day after is like.

The day of is intense. Then, there is the emotional release.

The reality. But, was it?

And, looking back objectively, we know now, He had to die.

Even if they would have recognized and accepted Him they still would have had to kill.

The Lamb of God had to take the punishment that was deserved by us so the scales of God’s justice could be equalized.

Picture Abraham raising the knife over Isaac on the altar of sacrifice.

There would have been no lamb in the thicket. Jesus is our Lamb in the thicket.

We should be the ones whose life is taken to pay for our own sins.

But Jesus took that for us. He had to for us to have any hope at all.

The believers knew the religious leaders were out to frame Jesus and the Roman gov’t did not seem to see thru it. Or, they didn’t care.

They thought that was Jesus’s moment, His big opportunity. But now they realize it wasn’t.

Sunday was.

It wasn’t quite what they had expected. But, wow!

If Jesus can solve his biggest problem, raising himself from the dead. Then he can solve our biggest problem, raising us from the dead.

And, w/ this one solved, everything else is a piece of cake.

Sending a rescuer out on the interstate at 1 in the morning, or a friend w/ an extra car.

Both Jason and his son having the same defect.

We have to be careful about over-simplifying God’s answer to our prayers in these situations.

But, He answered them.

Jesus’s death and resurrection allow us to be able to relate to God much easier.

He was always involved on a personal basis w/ believers. But now it’s easier for us to see him show up in down to earth ways.

God will answer our tough questions.

And the answers may be as unexpected as the disciples’ answers were that first Easter Sunday.

But if you go the tomb to look for Jesus, if you seek Him, you’ll recognize God’s unexpected answers.

Remember, Peter followed Jesus when He was arrested, looking for the answer to, what would they do to Jesus.

And, Peter failed Jesus miserably. So, then the question became, what will happen to Peter.

And, what happens to people who do things similar to what Peter did.

Here’s the answer to that question.

Answer #2

What Happened to Peter?

John 21:7–8 NIV

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

John 21:15–17 NIV

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Peter did not just let Jesus down.

Just a few days earlier he had promised to do all that he could to prevent Jesus from dying.

He disowned Him.

After vowing to stand w/ Him by standing in front of him to take the bullet for Him, he vowed to those present he had never met Jesus.

Which vow, which promise was true? Neither. He lied to God.

People have died for less.

What happens when a believer messes up bad? None of us have messed up as bad as Peter.

So, go the the extreme to see how Jesus handled Peter to see how He will handle you when you mess up.

That night, right after the rooster crowed and he had disowned Jesus 3 times, he was a broken man. He ran off and wept bitterly.

In his defense, he was afraid they might do to him what they were doing to Jesus.

In his remorse he was desperate for Jesus to forgive him. He had to wait until the next time he saw him, if there would be a next time.

So, some days later, Peter and John are out fishing and they see Jesus on the shore, and with all the grace of dog in a gunny sack, Peter ran thru the water to fall at Jesus’ feet to beg him to forgive him.

Begging wasn’t necessary. Jesus already knew Peter owned his mistake.

And w/ a smile on his face, Jesus helped Peter up and not only forgave, restored to his ministry leadership position.

We are so quick to DQ ppl for past mistakes. Jesus needed to know that Peter was remorseful. And He did.

So, what happened to Peter?

After Jesus ascended to heaven, Peter took the early leadership role in the church among the disciples.

What hope did Peter have? More than before Jesus died b/c now he knew that even if he messed up bad, Jesus would always forgive him and restore Him.

How bad have you messed up in your life?

I guarantee you’ve never messed up as bad as Peter did that night. And if Peter could be fully restored and find his hope again, certainly you can too.

One of the ways Peter demonstrated his leadership after Jesus was gone was at Pentecost when he stood up and preached what the international travelers heard the disciples saying in the other languages.

So, what did happen to that new org that Jesus was starting up?

The head was cut off. Did the body die, too?

Well, when the head came back to life, the body took on life.

And, here we are today.

Answer #3

What Happened to Us?

Acts 2:1–4 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Jesus had promised that once he left then the HS would come and indwell every believer.

W/ that indwelling comes power to perform in powerful ways.

And, w/ the power came abilities that we still have access to today to branch of the org that Jesus and the apostles laid the foundation for.

The indwelling power is described in the first part of Acts 2.

Then, every spiritual gift is described as it’s being used in the church at the end of Acts 2.

The result is astronomical growth. thousands joined that day. And every day after more joined to be a part of such a powerful org that has a personal relationship w/ God and a reservation at the table when Jesus gathers all believers and welcomes us to heaven.

Easter is the answer.

Good Friday is a hard situation that’s filled with tough questions. And, tough questions with seemingly no good answers breed hopelessness.

But this is Easter.

Easter provides good answers to all of our toughest questions and keeps us hopeful.

B/C Jesus solved the toughest problem He had. And when He did that, he made clear that any tough situation we have would be a piece of cake.

Let the events of Easter restore your hope for whatever difficult situation you may ever find yourself in.

If God can solve the toughest situation He’s ever been in, then solving our toughest situations is simply assured.