Part Four

The way to life-to God! -Is

vigorous and requires

total attention. Matthew 7:14MSG

Matthew 11:25-3025 Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. 26 Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

27 Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Mark 15:25-27NLT25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place. 26 A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus' head, announcing the charge against him. It read: "The King of the Jews.“ 27 Two criminals were crucified with him, their crosses on either side of his.

Mark 15:29-30NLT29 And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. "Ha! Look at you now!" they yelled at him. "You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you? 30 Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!"

Mark 15:31-32NLT31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!" Even the two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.

Mark 15:33-34NLT33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. 34 Then, at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Darkness – A symbol of divine judgment on sin

Mark 15:34NAS …“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?“

Isaiah 53:10NLT

It was the Father’s:Pleasure, Will and Plan

to do this!

Because of His great love for you and us!!

Mark 15:37-39NLT37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"

John 19:30b …He said, "It is finished!" Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

It is finished – (Tetelestai) paid in full

Self-worth does not determine net-worth

Self-worth = What you “feel” about yourself

Net-worth = After all balances are reconciled

2 Corinthians 5:14a-15NLT 14 …Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:21NLT For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Living our life as a Thank You!

Something GREAT happens when we no longer “have to,”

but we “get to!”

It’s TGIF Day!ThankGod I’m Forgiven!

Jesus did not only pay for the sins done by us, but also the sins/stuff that happened to us.

His sacrifice covers:Past – Present - Future

The TempleThe Veil was60 feet long30 feet wide

4 inches thick

Executed criminals had to be taken off the cross by sundown (Mark 15:42/John 19:31)

Typically, soldiers would break their legs to quicken their death.

They put a spear into Jesus’ side to make certain He died.(John 19:32-44)

Mark 16:2-7NLT 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb. 3 On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. 4 But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone -- a very large one -- had already been rolled aside.

5 So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, 6 but the angel said, "Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!"

 Mark 16:14NLT14 Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.

Jesus wasn’t real happy with their

“refusal to believe/stubborn unbelief.”

Justice – Getting what you deserve

Mercy - Not getting what you deserve

Grace – Receiving what you don’t deserve

Grace – Unmerited, unearned and underserved favor

Next Sunday: May 1st

Jesus didn’t die to rehab, re-educate,

or reform you; but to recreate youfrom the inside out!

ManSIN

Romans 3:23

GodETERNAL

LIFE!John 10:10

Christ

Romans 5:8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet

sinners, Christ died for us

John 3:16

John 5:24

BELIEVE

Jesus becomes:

Forgiver of Past

Leader into Future

JUST DO IT1. What part of your past, present, or future needs to be

covered by Jesus and the cross?

2. How would living your life as a ‘Thank you” change what you do this week?

3. Take the next step:Cross the Bridge Walk with JesusWork with His church

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