SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH
Jennifer was terrified & quickly moved from him until she backed into a fence. The man did not move, he just held his hand on his bleeding face & tried to speak as she screamed, "Let me alone. Go away." At that the man turned and walked slowly down the street. Jennifer slid to the ground trembling. She was afraid she might pass out. Then a strange noise caught her attention and lights began to flash in the dark night. The ground began to shake and the noise became increasingly louder coming at her. In an instant she saw it. A train roared past a few feet from where she sat, crashed into her car and dragged it scraping & banging into the darkness. It was then she realized...God had answered her prayer! The man he sent, knew about the approaching train. He understood the life threatening situation she was in and was trying to save her.
After all these years, Jennifer still awakens at night & wonders "What would have happened if I successfully fought off the man attempting to drag me to safety?" That’s what each of us need to ask as we read Luke 23:39-47, 24:1-8 and respond to the One who came to save us on Good Friday & rose for us at Easter! First…
I. SEEK TO KNOW THE BLOODIED PERSON ON THE CROSS
A. This requires seeing the limits of men’s power and need of God’s Power (v. 27 vs. v. 33 & 35). Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. We are equally helpless and guilty. We can’t cancel out our sin, but a Crucified & Risen Savior can! But like Jennifer in the Train story, if we continue
to fight off the man who went to the Cross & Rose Again to drag us to safety…we risk losing life here and in eternity! It was our fighting back in selfishness, sin & pride that caused Jesus’ whipped back, ripped out beard, nail-pierced hands, sun-scorched body, and blood pierced side. Today if Jesus’ Cross, love & forgiveness doesn’t move us emotionally, it’ll never define our lives eternally!
B. This requires seeing the importance of claiming all He provided. While you may this Easter month…make a favorable impression when compared with other people, none of us can stand up against the pure whiteness of the character of Christ. This is why each of us must claim what Good Friday provided when Jesus cried out in v. 34 “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. This requires a determination to gain His peace to replace your pain! He allowed Himself to be stripped so you could be dressed in a robe of righteousness. He hung bloody on a cross for you, so you could be clothed in beauty in this life & eternity. He rose again so He could breathe life into your “dead” situation. This is what makes the Person of the Cross and the Power of the Cross so valuable!
One drop of Jesus’ blood can destroy the kingdom of satan. Col. 1:13-14
One drop of Jesus’ blood can destroy our sin and spiritually draw us close to God. Rev. 1:5-6
One drop of Jesus’ blood causes judgment, death and calamity to pass over you. Look at Exodus 12:13.
One drop of Jesus’ blood gives us boldness to enter the presence of God.
On Friday it appeared that there was no hope for man’s situation, but Easter Sunday our problem was solved forever! We must realize EASTER ISN’T ABOUT A DEAD MAN, ITS ABOUT YOUR FUTURE!