When Jesus was on the cross before his death he said “it is finished.” He was saying that the work the father had given him was complete. But the good news is that the work he did on the cross for the father benefited us for all eternity! In this message we learn how the grace Jesus offers us from the cross allows us to enjoy a life free from the bondage of debt, a sin-debt.
When Jesus was crucified on the cross his last demonstration of his suffering was thirst. Jesus said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). The humanity of Jesus was being demonstrated because he was actually dying of thirst. Yet his plea was not just because he was physically thirsty. He was still thirsting for the souls of men!
The world’s desire to quench it’s thirst with fortune and fame are only able to fill it with the things that are perishable. Jesus offers eternal life where men will never thirst “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). So while Jesus’ thirst was physical it symbolized something else he desired. In the face of suffering and evil, the world desires to satisfy it’s own thirst for earthly desires, but Jesus’ thirst desires too. He thirst for us.
Whether it’s a replacement part for your car, home appliance or item in your life, many of you will always look for something or someone to replace. Some of us even have parts in our body we want to replace too. The difference is that we have to give up something in order to replace it. When we replace something it is because we see the value of something else. We desire to replace love. We are driven to replace because of doubt, and we replace because we see the need that something else can provide in our life.
On the cross Jesus plea of why was answered with silence. Today the silence we think we don’t hear is answered with the substitution of God’s grace. In this message you will find 3 replacements for your life and hear how the love of Jesus Christ values you and your life greater than you may even see yourself.
Christ gave affection in his time of death, yet gave it to everyone for all time. Christ desires to comfort everyone, because his work on the cross gives comfort and eternal life. As we experience grief and suffering Christ has given us divine empathy to our problems––him.
Jesus prophesied that the disciples would desert him in fear, but their only solution would be to return to him. In a world today that offers tribulation Jesus offers peace. Only Christ can conquer the falsehood of a lying world and deliver true peace, if we accept his offer.
The way to peace is Jesus, and that beginning is found in salvation through Christ alone. “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (Psalm 62:1). Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes he lets the storm rage, and calms his child.
Jesus tells us to “take heart” or “take courage.” This means that he is encouraging us not only to take what he is offering, but to know that he would not offer something if it didn’t have a guarantee. We have been given that guarantee when he said, “I have overcome the world” v.33. Jesus does not offer us false promises; he offers us the ultimate guarantee, himself.
Jesus said “behold the hour has come…” Perhaps today is your hour. Perhaps today in your heart of hearts God is speaking to you and says, “Take heart.” In other words, take courage. Go ahead take it, salvation that is. Take the free offer of salvation of peace and forgiveness and eternal relationship with God in Heaven. Let today be your hour to take what Christ freely offers you now.
Each of us experiences grief in some measure either through direct experiences or indirectly in the lives of others around us. It is easy to ask if God is truly God and truly good then personal tragedy betrays rational confidence in God. In times of grief we often ask more questions because we seek more answers, but the often that answer is only one.
Jesus was summoned to a despairing situation. However Jesus was more interested in letting the disciples know who he was and how their situation would change because of that. Today in a world of violence, suffering and pain we too must realize that Jesus is Lord, but that Jesus loves us more than we hurt.
For many of us facing difficult situations of despair and discouragement can be a part of our experience. When the disciples found themselves unable to cast the evil spirit out of a possessed boy they were confused and frustrated. However Jesus told them the only way to face their situation and doubt was through prayer.
Today everyone who has placed their faith in Christ should know that the power of God is available to overcome the most difficult situations in life. However, the source of all power is Jesus Christ and he wants us to come to him for everything in our life. In this sermon podcast we hear how that peace comes from knowing that only God can do the miraculous and from trusting Jesus Christ for all our needs in prayer.
Many people celebrate Christmas, however not many people realize what exactly they are celebrating. Christmas is about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is important to realize is just who is Jesus Christ. In this sermon we will see who he is and the reason he came into this world. When we understand this we can then celebrate Christmas knowing that Jesus Christ is the founder of our faith.
As this year comes to a close there have been many events this past year that may make us think about our world today. We have experienced terrorism again in our land both foreign and domestic. Looking ahead to 2016 we are preparing for presidential elections. This past year may have been more difficult for you and your family than any of these events!
As we look at our lives and society today I wonder how it compares to the year Jesus was born in the first-century. Rome was extracting heavy taxes on Palestine, insurrection was ongoing in the land against Roman oppression; corruption ran rampant among the kings of Israel; famines were common occurrences. Sound familiar?
Many people today believe the solution to our problems is more laws, some believe it’s less laws. I wonder if that would have sounded familiar to those living in the first century too. Interestingly enough the nation of Israel was looking to a messiah. The difference was they were looking for a military leader who would crush Roman oppression and be the great equalizer in injustice and suffering in the world. So what did they get? More laws, less laws. No. They got a baby born in some back woods barn by parents who didn’t even have a place to call their own. By most standards they would have been shunned by society.
God’s answer to the prophecy foretold by the prophets was the messiah; God incarnated himself in the Godchild, Jesus Christ. Why did he do that? If God thought we had a technology problem he would have sent us a scientist. If he thought we had an information problem he would have sent us an educator. If he thought we had a money problem he would have sent us an economist. But he didn’t. Because the greatest problem we face today is the same problem they had in the first-century and that’s a sin problem. That’s why he sent us a savior to bring the solution in forgiveness.
The greatest gift God has ever given to his creation is his Son Jesus Christ. When Jesus came into the world born of a virgin it was God fulfilling his promise to everyone, Immanuel (God with us). The greatest gift of all is the gift we have in a relationship with Jesus Christ. “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
As you and your family prepare to celebrate Christmas, celebrate the gift God has given us in his Son Jesus Christ. The greatest gift we have received was already gift wrapped in swaddling clothes and all the angels proclaimed “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:14). God has already given us hope for today and all the days ahead through a relationship with him through his Son Jesus Christ, and you can’t go out and buy that at the mall! Merry Christmas.
As we approach Christmas we are reminded that God sent his Son. Christmas also reminds us that we have been given a sign that demands whom we will put our faith in. Isaiah prophesied to the king Ahaz. Despite Ahaz’s rebellion, God was still faithful and told him he would give him a sign that “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14), which means God is with us. So as we celebrate Christmas are reminded that God’s Son, Jesus Christ is with us.
Latest Articles