But Sunday’s Coming

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. For Christians around the world, this is both a time of sadness and rejoicing. It marks the day that Jesus (the man who never sinned) was crucified. He was nailed to a tree and bore the sins of the world. He died and was placed in a tomb. That’s the sadness part.

But, Friday was NOT the end!

We also celebrate his resurrection because he didn’t stay in that tomb. He arose on the third day. And THAT is the rejoicing part!

Two Thousand Years Ago

If you are not familiar with this story, let’s go back to two thousand years ago, when Jesus was killed for crimes he never committed. From our vantage point, we are fortunate to be able to look back at that day so we can understand more fully what his death truly means. WE can see the whole picture, but for those who knew Jesus two thousand years ago – who walked with him daily – they saw their friend dying the most horrible of deaths. This man in whom they had placed all their faith – for whom they had given up their jobs/professions – with whom they had lived for three years, was hanging on a cross. These disciples – his closest friends – watched from the crowd as he suffered, bled and breathed his final breath.

All hope was lost as his lifeless body was removed from the cross and then placed in a tomb. The entrance was sealed with a large stone. He was dead.  Friend.  Leader.  Hope.  All gone.

Sin – what is it?

I grew up during the 50’s.  I learned the difference between right and wrong at an early age.  Thanks to my parents and grandparents, I learned that doing wrong – was sin.

We are sinners – all of us. Even though the Bible says, “all have sinned,”  many think they aren’t sinners, that there’s no such thing. Let me ask you this – do you have to teach a child to do wrong?  At some point, those precious little angels will look at us and lie straight to our face.  That’s not something we taught them. It’s something that comes natural. I know you think your child is perfect . . . but trust me . . . at some point you will realize that is not so.

The Original Plan

God has always wanted to have a relationship with people. The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, had a very close relationship with Him. They walked with Him in the Garden in the cool of the evening, talked about their day and just spent time with God. He loved them. They loved Him. Then there was the whole “serpent and apple thing” and their relationship was broken. Why?  Because of sin.

God – the One who created all things – is holy, all-knowing, all-powerful and righteous. He cannot be in the presence of sin.

But see, God still loved people. Even though man had sinned, God still longed for people to “want” to spend time with him, but there had to be a penalty for sin. The original plan for dealing with sin was a process of sacrificing animals to God to get rid of sin.

The New Plan

So, how could He have a relationship with people again? The new plan was simple.  It involved the sacrifice of a pure Lamb.

One perfect sacrifice. Once. For. All. People.

Someone who was sinless (perfect) would be the sacrifice.

There is only one person ever born who fit that description, who never sinned.  His name was Jesus.  Because He was the Son of God and born like all babies – from a woman, He was 100% God and 100% man – flesh and blood. He came to earth with a mission – to make it easier for people to have a relationship with God. At the end of his life on earth, this perfect man who never sinned took on all the sins of the world. That means the sins of everyone who had ever lived up to that time, all the people who lived after Him, all who will ever live. You. Me. Everyone. He became the sacrifice for our sins, was punished – put to death – for all the sins of the world.  He was sacrificed as the perfect, sinless lamb – instead of us.  And yet he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Guilt

There are consequences for sin. If you speed, you get a speeding ticket. Steal from someone? You must pay the penalty of that theft – repayment of the debt you owe or perhaps time in jail. Murder someone? You will go to prison or maybe even be executed as a result.

There is always a penalty – even if you don’t get caught. What happens if you “get away” with doing something wrong? Your conscience may bother you for the rest of your life. You bear the guilt, the blame for the sin you committed.

Who was to blame for the death of Jesus?

Over the centuries, there has been a huge debate over who was to blame for Jesus’ death.

Was it Judas’ fault? After all, he was the one who sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Everyone has heard that was the price of a slave, right? But if you look carefully at the Law – it was the price of a “dead” slave – one who had been killed accidentally – like gored by an ox. Bet you didn’t know that . . . well, at least I didn’t. But Jesus wasn’t a slave and he certainly wasn’t being killed “accidentally.”

Was it the Roman soldiers’ fault? Crucifixion was the Roman method of execution – arguably the cruelest of that time. The soldiers were performing the duties assigned to them. That’s what soldiers do – they follow the orders they are given.

Was it the fault of the Jewish religious leaders? They were threatened by the power this man Jesus seemed to have over the crowds that were always following him. They refused to believe that he was who he said he was – the Son of God. It was easier to get rid of Jesus and eliminate any threat of rebellion of the people.

Or was it our fault?

We are the guilty ones

Jesus knew why he came to earth. He came willingly even though he knew he would die nailed to a cross. Jesus knew that he was to be the perfect sacrifice. For every sin. For your sin, and mine. We are all to blame for his death.  Every stinking, filthy, sinful one of us.

The question is . . . will you allow his death be for nothing?  Or will you accept the fact that he paid that penalty for your sin?  Are you willing to put your faith in, and live for the one who died in your place?

What do I have to do?

Okay, I know. I said earlier that Jesus died for the sins of everyone. Yes, he died for all our sins, but do you have to do something?

The answer is YES. There is something you have to do, but it may not be what you think. You don’t have to do good things, be a good person, make Jesus love you – he already does.

It’s simple, really. You must:

1. Admit you are a sinner
2. Believe Jesus died for YOUR sins
3. Accept the gift of salvation he paid for with his death
4. Commit to live your life for him – with him in control.

Sounds simple enough until you get to that last one, right? I should let someone else be in control of my life? Ummm. No. No one controls my life but me!

Oh, friend, the answer is Yes. Yes. Yes. Only then will you have SALVATION, PEACE, JOY, LOVE.

Salvation that can’t be taken away from you.

Peace when things are bad. Joy when your heart is broken. Love – even when people are not nice to you. It is possible. It is all possible.

Resurrection Sunday!

Jesus died and was put in the tomb.  The. End.

NOT!!

Three days later, on what we now call Easter, but more appropriately – Resurrection Sunday – the tomb was empty. Did you get that?  E.M.P.T.Y. Not only was it empty, but the burial cloth that had been wrapped round Jesus’s body before it was placed in the tomb was still there – right where he had lain. He was ALIVE!!

If you don’t think that is cause for celebration, let me help you get excited here . . . Because Jesus was resurrected, he paved the way for all of us.  Anyone who is a Christian is going to live forever.  Crazy, right?  Well, that doesn’t mean your body won’t die here on this earth. Our bodies will all eventually die. BUT, we will go straight into the arms of Jesus – in heaven – once we leave this body.  How exciting is that???  Because He lives, I will live, too.

You can, too.

Friend, just remember Good Friday is here, but don’t lose hope . . . Sunday’s coming! 

Next Steps

If you are already a Christian, you know how exciting this news is.  I expect to see you in church on Sunday morning!  Celebrate with Christians around the world on Resurrection Sunday.

If you aren’t a Christian but would like more information, you can reach out several ways:

• Contact one of your Christian friends – you know who they are.
• Contact a local Bible-believing church and ask for more information.  Better yet, show up there this Sunday.
• Leave me a message below.  I will pray for you and if you leave me your location, I’ll try to help you find a local church that can help you.

If you happen to be in the Kansas City area, join us in our 10:30 AM Central time Sunday morning service. If you’re not in this area, you can meet with us online at 10:30 in our Livestream or check out our church online anytime at https://www.opendoorkc.com/livestream.

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