Elements City Church
We all know that ‘final words’ hold a great deal of significance and meaning. We tend to lean in to friends and relatives as they share with us in those moments. As we move toward Easter – we remember the final words Jesus spoke from the Cross and what they show us about God’s heart for humanity. We celebrate the wonder of the Easter Resurrection on Sunday April 1st, 2018 from the vantage point of these significant final words. They still speak to us today...
If you've ever had to move before - you've utilized boxes to pack. Boxes are nice because they can contain stuff. Make it manageable and controllable. Some folks like to live life that way - trying to make everything containable, controllable and manageable. But God doesn't fit in your box, my box or any box. EASTER proves that God is NOT containable...
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 NIV
1 Corinthians 15:17-20 NIV
Quote:
"There is only one reason to be a Christian: Because it's true."
- Francis Schaeffer
EASTER HAPPENED and it burst into our world, but our minds and imaginations were too small to contain it. At one level the continued puzzlement of the disciples is a mark of the story's authenticity.
As even one leading agnostic scholar has put it, “it looks as though they were struggling to describe something for which they didn't have adequate language.” The reality of Easter & God & how He works = isn’t containable
He’s MUCH TOO BIG to fit in any box.
John 3:16-17 NIV
It’s by faith, not effort that we find our way home to God.
Easter extends an invitation and calls us to choose:
– which will you rely on? (Faith or Effort?)
= are you trusting in your effort to get in good standing with the Creator OR will you choose faith in what Jesus did on your behalf?
We see examples of people in the gospels reaching out in faith, clinging to a hope in Jesus like a lifeline…but maybe none more clearly than what we see as Jesus was finishing his mission on the cross.
You’ll remember – there were 3 Crosses that day.
Jesus was on one.
2 criminals were on the others…
Luke 23:32-33 NIV
Jesus’ heart is always turning toward those who are turning in his direction – those looking to find HOPE in Him!
That’s the testimony of the cross – He came to seek and save the lost.
Luke 23:39-43 NIV
John 12:32 (Jesus said) "And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” ONE criminal, in one crucial moment, made one faith filled leap of trust…and Jesus responded: “Today, you’ll be ‘with me’”… That’s the HOPE that is introduced and unleashed on that cross in that moment and what it driven home by EASTER and the resurrection.
Bottom Line:
Having a ‘with Jesus’ life means I’ll never have a “without Jesus” moment again
Easter is celebrating this new reality – availability of life ‘with Jesus’ now and forever more. We see in this moment on the cross with these 2 criminals: a choice. There comes a moment for each one of us as well: what are you going to do with Jesus?A choice is really what the invitation of EASTER offers us.
Romans 10:9 NIV
NEED PRAYER? ....we've got some of our prayer team and pastors available following service to pray with you. Or you can text the word "prayer" to our phone number: #520-300-9001 to submit your prayer request or submit one via our new app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.