The world is lost. We all know the world is lost. If the world was honest the world would admit to being lost. So what do we need when we are lost? We need a way forward. 

Our way forward is Christ.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,God  did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:1-8

God went His son to fulfill the Law to make a way for us to be with Him in heaven. 

You have to choose -- the world or Jesus.

"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6

Jesus is the door!

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21

Follow in His steps wherever He leads us.

The path forward is marked. 

The markers left by Christ are clear.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
  in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.[a]" Proverbs 3:5-6

"Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6

Live in me as I live in the Father is what Jesus says. 

Do as I do -- Love as I love.

​"13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:13-17

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12

Resurrection makes all things new!

"So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:16-19

Jesus will physically return to earth!

Do as I do.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher." Luke 6:37-47

See in the above passage --  your action reaps. If you judge you will be judged. don't judge and you won't be judged; don't forgive and you won't be forgiven, etc....

They are Promises and Warnings.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Luke 6:46-49

Set your mind on the Resurrection. Don't be a fan. Be a follower.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4

Don't be deceived. 

We are never left alone.

"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:4-6

Challenge: Be a well-trained student. Use discipline. Get into the Word. Do what Jesus does. Follow Him.

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Mark 16:1-7

It took 20 men to roll a stone in front of the tomb away. 

(Shannon shares a good story about the hymn "He Lives!" and its writer Alfred Ackley. He wrote it in 1933)

Jesus killed death! He was resurrected whole and complete.

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

Jesus was the First to be Resurrected. We who believe in Him will be resurrected too. No more aches and pains and sufferings.

If we don't believe in the Resurrection of Jesus what do we have?

"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." 1 Corinthians 15:14

There's sacrifice -- and there's Glory afterwards.

Jesus picks up where every other religion leaves off -- the tomb.

If no resurrecction, then why . . . 

"My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:2-3

"16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter,[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[b] will not overcome it." Matthew 16:16-18

Hell cannot and will not overcome the Church!

Resurrection -- here is our faith!

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Jesus knows we're coming! And He's waiting for us!

"19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 2 Corinthians 5:19

It is Finished -- this means "Economic" and "Paid in Full."

"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

It isn't over!

And we are resurrected through Him!

"14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15

(Story about Winston Churchill's funeral here -- played Taps then Revelry to show the world he knew his death was the beginning -- his real waking up)

“Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

Live a resurrected life all the time. Jesus is not selective -- He calls all.

The Day that Death died was the Day Jesus came back to life!!

“Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?” Romans 6:9

Our faith is realized through the Resurrection!

First blood sacrifice in the Bible happened in Genesis 3:

21 "The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them." Genesis 3:21

And then in the end:
"13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Revelation 7:13-14

I. The Lamb was needed.

Blood on the doorway -- Everyone needed to be covered by the blood because everyone has sinned. The angel of death was coming. If you don't follow through with God's commands of putting blood on the door, your child would die.

"3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”"
John 3:3

II. The Lamb is chosen.

The lamb was chosen on day 10 (see Exodus 12) and taken home and not sacrificed till day 14. Kids probably got quite attached.

8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.[a]" revelation 13:8

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[a]" Galatians 4:4-5

God sent Jesus at the perfect time. The Romans were in charge and built roads everywhere. There was a common language -- Greek. The language, the roads were all there so the gospel could be spread! Fullness of God's time!!

III. The Lamb was watched.

the kids would watch the lamb these four days. The people and the Pharisees watched Jesus.

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[a]" Luke 6:7

IV. The Lamb is slaughtered.

Jesus was chosen. His purpose was to die, to be the sacrifice for all sin. A blood sacrifice. His blood is on all our hands. 

23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross." Acts 2:23

IV. Blood applied.

Killing the lamb was not enough. The blood had to be applied to the door frame -- above, right and left and below. Just like the cross: the crown of thorns, the nails on the right, the left and below. Jesus is the Door to Heaven.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture." John 10:7-9

The blood had to be applied by faith. Used hyssop to apply it -- everyone had to do it. Hyssop was a common shrub. All had to pick some to apply the blood. Leveled the playing field.

V. The Lamb was eaten.

The lamb had to be eaten by the family. We have to ingest Jesus's flesh and blood. He is the bread from heaven. He has to be part of us. Blood=salvation Flesh=regeneration.

"Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." John 6:53

Eaten with the Lamb was bitter herbs which represented Egypt and slavery. Bread without yeast -- hurry!

7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

You had to be dressed and ready.

Are you ready?

The LORD's supper:

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” John 6:53-58

 God's Gifts to us: Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars – animals, plants, water

Life – flesh and blood, breath and memories

Family – Spouse, children, grandchildren

Every moment of our lives, joy and sorrow, gives us meaning and proves that we are alive!

The Greatest Gift:

​"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
                                                     Isaiah 9:6

Wonderful Counselor
James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
Mighty God
Colossians 1: 15-16   15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him

​Everlasting Father
Romans 8: 16-17  16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory
Prince of Peace
Philippians 4:6-7   6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Came in the Fullness of God's Love:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

​
God became a flesh -- the mystery

​​
 "Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
    was vindicated by the Spirit,[a]
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:16

​Why Did Jesus Come as a Baby?

"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him." Hebrews 5:7-9

Jesus was always perfect, always complete. But through his birth and life he experienced the frail, sinful life of man. 

The baby grew up!

Ask the Angels  Luke 2:11
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Ask John the Baptist  John 1:29
 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world

Ask the demons!  Mark 5:7
7 The man spoke with a loud voice and said, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? 

​Ask Paul   Philippians 3: 8
8 Even more than that, I think of everything as worth nothing. It is so much better to know Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for Him. And I think of these things as worth nothing so that I can have Christ.

Ask the Roman Centurion Matthew 27: 57
The captain of the soldiers and those with him who were watching Jesus, saw all the things that were happening. They saw the earth shake and they were very much afraid. They said, “For sure, this Man was the Son of God.”

Celebrate the baby, celebrate the sacrifice:

The trials and tribulations for Jesus started right away, and never ended
Herod tried to kill him when he was a baby.
Then he grew up and:
Nazareth (hometown) drove him away
He was homeless, hungry, weary, tempted
He was hated, accused, denied and betrayed
He was crowned with thorns, beaten, spat upon, and crucified
And yet…

JOY!

Matthew 28: 8-9
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.


Greetings = Chairete – Χαίρω  Be Full of Joy!

The Resurrection was the completion of the angels’ greeting

​"For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders." Isaiah 9:6

The child is born (man)
The Son is given (God)
The perfect gift, Jesus, wrapped in the wrapping paper of flesh. 

​“God’s love must be wonderful beyond comprehension. God could quite justly have abandoned us to our fate. He could have left us alone to reap the fruit of our wrongdoing and to perish in our sins. It is what we deserved. But he did not. Because he loved us, he came after us in Christ. He pursued us even to the desolate anguish of the cross, where he bore our sin, guilt, judgment, and death… It is more than love. Its proper name is ‘grace,’ which is love to the undeserving. God himself in his Son has borne the penalty for our law-breaking”. -
​                                                                                                                        John Stott, The Cross of Christ

Following are Shannon's sermon notes:

2017 study by BBC said that 25% of British Christians did not believe in the resurrection of Christ!
The cross, through suffering of Christ, should drive us to our knees, knowing the sacrifice that was made for us. The resurrection, therefore, should lift us up, justified to rise again as new creations.
Luke 24: 1-8
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
Set the stage
 
What is the meaning of the Resurrection?
 
1. Fulfillment of all that Jesus said would happen.
Matthew 12:40
40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 16:21
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Matthew 17:9
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Without the resurrection, Jesus would just have been a martyr, the same as so many others, to be pitied. But He is so much more because of the resurrection.
The resurrection is a sign that Jesus’ sacrifice was acceptable to God, that he is now seated at the right hand of the father and will come again. We serve a LIVING SAVIOR!
Our faith is based on the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15: 12-19
 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
 
2. Our Justification is based on the Resurrection

Romans 4:25
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Justification means “to be put right with”. Sin separated us from God. We are deserving of His wrath.
 
 
 
 
Ephesians 2:3
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
 
 
Jesus was needed to step in to correct this situation, nothing short would have fixed it. Nothing we could ever do would bring us back, we needed His sacrifice. Our sins died with Him.
But the resurrection brings us back to God. Christ was justified through resurrection. He said “it is finished” on the cross. He never said “I am finished”!
Romans 5: 18-19
Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
 
3. The Resurrection became the foundation of the Church.

The scattered were gathered.

Matthew 26: 31-32
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[a]
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
None of the disciples were waiting for resurrection. Even though it was predicted through the Old Testament, and by Jesus himself, Jesus needed to appear before His disciples for it to become evident to them. This changed their lives, from fear to boldness, from despair to hope. What happened after the resurrection is the beginning of the Church.
 
4. The resurrection is the model for living a sacrificial life.

Understanding the concept of dying to self and becoming a new creation in God. Our purpose on this earth was given meaning. We are to take up our cross and follow Him.Romans 6: 5-8
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him

5. Jesus conquered death.
Death is the enemy of all mankind, the result of a sinful world. The mortality rate is 100%. Jesus conquered death.Romans 6:9-11
. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
 
Death could no longer hold Jesus, and it can no longer hold us. We don’t need to fear death, because we no longer fear judgement.
Maggie
 Our death brings reunion with God, Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
 
 
 
6. The resurrection of Jesus is the hope of every believer.

1 Peter 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.
Through the resurrection of Jesus, we have been brought into the family of God. We are children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, heirs to an everlasting life.
 
John 11: 25-26
 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
 
Do you believe?
 
 “God has taken away everything we worship “God said, ‘you want to worship athletes, I will shut down the stadiums. You want to worship musicians, I will shut down Civic Centers. You want to worship actors, I will shut down theaters. You want to worship money, I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market. You don't want to go to church and worship Me, I will make it where you can't go to church.’
 “Maybe we don't need a vaccine. “Maybe we need to take this time of isolation from the distractions of the world and have a personal revival where we focus on the ONLY thing in the world that really matters. Jesus.”
                                                                                                                                             Hulk Hogan

2 Chronicles 7:14  “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.”