April 12, 2020
Morning Service

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Note: Some gaps in audio due to streaming issues.

I trust that through this the Passion Week each of you journeyed alongside Jesus experiencing all that happened along with Him through the scripture readings.  What a journey it has been as we began one week ago with His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  Praises were for the first time not quieted but it was encouraged to sing out that Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah.  He was finally here and things will never be the same.  The week also included quite a flurry of teaching as Jesus invested in those around Him right until the very end.  He taught with great authority on faith, forgiveness, the greatest commandment, and even answered questions on His second coming among much more.  On Thursday as the Passover was celebrated a great mystery was revealed for each of us as well of a prophecy of what the next day would hold and for who it was done.

Luke 22:14-20 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  (15)  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; (16) for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  (17)  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; (18) for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  (19)  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  (20)  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

            This was the institution of the Lord’s Supper or as we call it the Communion Service that we still practice today.  It is to be a sacred time of remembrance for each of focusing in on the fact that His body was sacrificed and His blood was shed for YOU!  This journey that we have all experienced this week walking alongside our Lord was motivated and planned to demonstrate God’s love for YOU!  This is without a doubt the greatest love story ever told.  God who loves and desires a relationship with His creation so greatly that He offers up His Own Son to reconcile them to Himself.  Jesus took our place upon that cross to pay the debt for our sins which had separated us from God.

 

Joh 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  (17)  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

        Jesus endured the cross and all the suffering that went along with it because He and His Father love you and desire you to be saved (restore your broken relationship with Him) not condemned.   As you read or even watch all that Jesus was put through in this short 24-hour timeframe the betrayal, the agony of the Garden, the false trials, the scourging, the humiliation, the intense suffering and even experiencing death know that it was for you!  Jesus said this to His disciples.

 

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

There should be little or no doubt in your mind that God loves you.  This was His plan from the very beginning of time as we can read in Isaiah 53 and Psalms 22 both prophecy of Jesus upon the cross hundreds of years earlier.  The scene of the cross is not a pleasant one. The many signs and wonders caused the centurion watching all of this to proclaim “Truly this was the Son of God.” (Matt. 28:54)

 

John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!"  (29)  Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  (30)  So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

        Every scripture that prophesied of the Christ had been fulfilled up to this point. He was removed from the cross and placed into a new tomb where no one had laid.  To the disciples it must have seemed like all hope had been lost.  All their great plans of Jesus being the conquering hero of Israel had come crashing down upon them so quickly that it was hard to believe it.  What would come next?  All of them had to be extremely remorseful that they had forsaken the One who had invested so much in them.  Peter could not imagine where things would go now after he had denied 3 times even knowing the One he had rightfully identified as the “Christ the Son of the living God.”  They all left confused and dejected not understanding what all was going on around them. 

            The first Easter morning for the disciples is similar to what we are experiencing today with the Covid-19 virus.  We too are a little confused, dejected, and without full understanding of all that is happening around us.  We are often filled with anxiety not truly knowing what tomorrow may bring for us.  Many of us have celebrated this resurrection day our whole lives in church; but this year we cannot.  Is all hope lost?  How can God make a mess like this into something beautiful?  The disciple’s answer came quickly as will ours in His time.

            God always has a flair for the dramatic.  He wants there to be no doubt of who He is and what He is capable of.  He created the night to be the darkest right before dawn.  Many watched the One they thought was the Messiah die upon that cross.  It did seem all hope was lost.  Cari posted a song on the Facebook page that describes this moment in a powerful way as Jesus lay lifeless in the tomb having fulfilled all but one of the prophecies.  The song ‘s chorus has God’s voice ringing out over the entire world:

 

            Arise my love.  Arise my love.

            The grave no longer has a hold on you.

            No more death’s sting and no more suffering.

            Arise, arise my love.

 

 

Read John 20:1-20

Church know that our Lord and Savior did not stay buried in the tomb, He arose in victory conquering sin and death one time and forever!

 

Christ Arose page 216

 

Our hope of eternal life arose from the grave.  Hope has a name, love has a name, peace has a name, our salvation has a name, and our joy has a name and it is Jesus Christ our Lord.  The greatest love story ever told now can have a happy ending because Jesus has done His part.  He fulfilled every prophecy defeating the power of sin and death upon the cross and being resurrected from the grave.  He has paved the path by which we can be reconciled unto our Heavenly Father.  How the story ends though depends upon you and the choice you make.  Jesus is lovingly calling out to you this quiet Easter morning:

 

Mat 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  (30)  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

            Jesus lovingly offers each of us the opportunity to “Come unto Me” and accept this gift of our sins being forgiven and for eternal life.  “He was wounded for our transgressions.  He was bruised for our iniquities.  The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) His body was broken and His blood spilled and He even experienced death itself for you.  It was all done for this moment that He reaches forth His hand and extends and invitation “Come unto Me.”  He has made all things new and now it is up to you how the story ends.   You can choose to reject the invitation because it is not a convenient time or because is too good to be true or just simply ignore it and He will walk away; no one is making you choose to follow.  But choose to say “Yes Lord” and accept His invitation to “come and follow” and your life will never be the same.  Love stories should always have a happy ending, so please take courage and accept this offer of love and eternal life that Jesus paid the price for this morning; I promise you, you will never regret it.  Today we celebrate together the greatest love story ever told.  It is our story.  It is my story.  It is His story and love never fails!  Though we are not physically together, know that our spirits rejoice as one.  Among the chaos and confusion let’s celebrate together that He is risen today!

 

I serve a risen Savior; He is in the world today.  I know that He is living, whatever men may say.  I see His hand of mercy and hear His voice of cheer; and just the time I need Him He’s always near.  He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!  He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way!  He lives, He lives salvation to impart.  You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart!

 

Heavenly Father, praise You for the empty tomb which completed Your plan of salvation, and thank You for the hope that it brings to us!