Easter - Ascension/Return

Last week, we examined the Resurrection, and this week, we will examine Jesus's ascension.

Luke 24:36-53 (NLT2)

And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37  But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38  “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39  Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40  As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41  Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43  and he ate it as they watched. 44  Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46  And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48  You are witnesses of all these things. 49  “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” 50  Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52  So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53  And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.

If you are a follower of Jesus, at some point, you understood that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin, you asked him to forgive you, and you accepted him as your Savior and surrendered your life to him.

As we see in verse 45, that only happened because:

GOD HAS OPENED YOUR MIND TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE

The only reason you are a follower of Jesus today is because God has opened your mind to understand the bible. The disciples already had a lot of head knowledge about the Bible. By the time a Jewish boy turned ten, they were required to have the first five books of the Old Testament memorized. Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy.  In the Jewish language, that was roughly 80,000 words!

Yet even though they had memorized 80,000 words. Even though they attended the synagogue for worship every week of their lives. Even though they spent roughly three years with Jesus. They still needed God to open their minds to understand scripture.

They knew God created them. They knew that Adam and Eve chose to sin, and sin entered the world. They knew that all descendants of Adam and Eve sinned. They knew THEY were sinners…and they knew they were separated from God…But they did not UNDERSTAND why JESUS died on the cross and rose from the dead.

I grew up Catholic. I understood that God created me.I understood Jesus paid the price for sin on the cross. I understood he rose from the dead.  But I wasn’t changed on the inside until God opened my mind to understand how to surrender my life to Jesus.

And, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus, it is only because God has opened your mind to understand the hope found in the Bible. That means God loves you and has chosen to open your mind to HIS TRUTH about your life. You have been FORGIVEN.

FORGIVEN PEOPLE LIVE DIFFERENTLY

When you repent and surrender your life to Jesus, everything changes. You do not just stop doing certain things. You start doing new things. You stop lying. You start telling the truth. You stop stealing. You start working and giving. You stop tearing people down. You start building others up. The change in your life is not behavior modification, it is transformation.  You live differently because you have been transformed.

Jesus described these believers as witnesses that prove to the world they saw Jesus alive.  Paul described how forgiven people live differently:

Ephesians 4:24-32 (NLT2)

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25  So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26  And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27  for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28  If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29  Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30  And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Paul does not say, “Try harder.”He says, “Put on your new nature.” That means we stop living like we used to. And we begin to live like Jesus.

When you are forgiven for your sin, your life changes. Here is what it looks like:

• You stop lying. You tell the truth.

• You stop letting anger control you. You deal with it quickly.

• You stop stealing. You work hard. You give to others.

• You stop using harmful words. You say what is helpful.

• You stop holding onto bitterness. You choose to forgive.

Paul is clear, if Jesus has changed your life, your life should look different. There has been an inward change because you have been forgiven.

Now, some of us stopped doing the obvious things, but we never started doing the right things. We stopped stealing, but we never started giving. We stopped lying, but we aren’t really speaking the truth. We stopped using foul language, but we never started building people up. Have you stopped the obvious things but never started doing what is right?

If we truly have surrendered our lives to Jesus, then we understand we live differently. So, embrace the freedom that God has given to you through Jesus. Demonstrate the freedom of forgiveness through a visible change in your life. So, since God opened your mind, you have been changed, and you are being changed to become more like Jesus…

JESUS BLESSED OTHERS, AND SO CAN YOU

Luke 24:50 (NLT2)

Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them.

The word BLESSED can be hard to understand. I was an altar boy. I remember the Priest taking Holy Water and flicking it on people in the church – and they considered that a blessing. In the movie Rocky…right before his big fight, Rocky asks Father Carmine for a blessing. Father Carmine says a prayer in Italian and makes the sign of the cross. We say God Bless you when somebody sneezes. A biblical blessing means to speak life, give thanks, or ask for God’s favor over someone.

So, as Jesus was leaving, he wasn’t telling his disciples what a bunch of miserable sinners they were…He did not threaten to punish them if they did something wrong while he was gone. Before he ascended into Heaven, Jesus spoke well of his disciples, thanked them, and asked God’s favor upon them. He BLESSED them through ENCOURAGEMENT.  He spoke words of LIFE over them.  He did not point out all their flaws; he focused on using his words to cause their hearts to swell with joy…not just joy – GREAT JOY.

51  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52  So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy.

The words Jesus said to them filled their hearts with GREAT JOY. He blessed them, and you can bless others, too. You can encourage others with words of life and hope. Your words can bless others. Rather than finding the flaws and pointing out the failures of people around you, use your words to bless them and point out their good.

I am reminded of the Seinfeld episode in which Frank Costanza creates a holiday called Festivus, and at the Festivus dinner, he goes around the table and tells everybody why he is sick of them! The sad truth is that while many people may not have a Festivus tradition like that, many choose to live every day like that. They use their words to criticize, tear down, and destroy others. But, WORDS of BLESSING can bring great JOY to others.

Don’t you feel good when others speak well of you? Don’t you feel good when somebody goes out of their way to say THANK YOU to you and appreciate and value you?   

So here is your challenge: find one person to bless with your words. Encourage them. Speak life. Show the change that Jesus has made in you.

Easter - The Resurrection

I have not always been a follower of Jesus. I grew up Catholic. I was an altar boy. I said the rosary. I knew the prayers. I believed in Jesus. But I was not a Christian. I believed in Jesus. But I was not following Him. I was eighteen in 1991 when I became a follower of Jesus.

And it may surprise you to know - after Jesus was brutally murdered on the cross and rose from the dead - His friends struggled to believe he was really alive.

Luke 24:1-12 (NLT2)

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3  So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4  As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5  The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6  He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7  that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” 8  Then they remembered that he had said this. 9  So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11  But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.

It makes sense to me that if anybody ever wanted Jesus to be alive, it would have been the men who followed him for three years of their lives. When somebody you love dies tragically and suddenly, you miss them and want them to be alive.

Jesus did not die of a long, drawn-out battle with cancer or disease.  One moment, Jesus was healthy and enjoying dinner with his closest friends; the next moment, he was arrested and murdered.

The disciples had seen him work miracles and change lives. They ate with him, learned from him, and saw the hope he brought to people. They wanted Jesus to be alive more than anybody.  And their initial response reminds us that when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus…

SOME WILL ALWAYS STRUGGLE TO BELIEVE

The disciple's first response was not “Jesus is alive!” Their first reaction was that they believed the women were nuts! Their story sounded like nonsense to them. They refused to believe Jesus was alive.

That may be where you are today. You believe Jesus existed. You believe he did good things. You believe that he was put to death by execution on the cross…But just like the disciples, you struggle to believe He rose from the dead.

Let me say this. I am glad you are here today.

You came because you love someone who kept inviting you to church. Maybe you said yes after being asked five or six times. Maybe it was your mom, your wife, or your friend. And you finally said, “Fine. I will go.” That says something about you. That says you care about them.  So, thanks for accepting their invitation.

Now, it is important to note that the disciples changed their minds. They went from refusing to believe to fully surrendering their lives to Him. How did they get there?

Well, in between verses 12 and 36, Jesus made a few special appearances. Jesus appeared to a couple of his disciples walking down a road and talked with them. Then he appeared to Peter. Then he appeared to his disciples, to show them the nails in his hands and feet.

And the disciples got together, and they were talking about it.

“Jesus appeared to me!” “Me too!”

“He showed us his hands and feet…”

“We had an entire conversation with him…”

And right in the middle of those conversations…

Luke 24:36-41A (NLT2)

And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder…

This was a moment when the disciples could not believe their eyes. Jesus, who had suffered and died on the cross, was now standing in front of them. And they still stood there in disbelief. They looked Him in the eye. They saw the wounds in His hands and feet. But their minds could not accept what they were seeing. His body was supposed to be decomposing. Not standing. Not speaking. Not alive.

They wanted to believe he was alive, but they had watched him die.  Their resistance reinforces the suffering and brutality of the cross they witnessed. The fact of his suffering left no room for hope.

Before Jesus was arrested in the Garden, he had been pleading with God to find another way to bring forgiveness to mankind rather than face the brutality of the cross.

Luke 22:42 (NLT2)

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

We do not understand the phrase “cup of suffering” the way the Jewish people did back then. In the Old Testament “the cup” is often used as a metaphor for the wrath of God.

Isaiah 51:17 (NLT)

Wake up, wake up, O Jerusalem! You have drunk the cup of the LORD’s fury. You have drunk the cup of terror, tipping out its last drops.

Jeremiah 25:15 (NLT)

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled to the brim with my anger, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.

Habakkuk 2:16 (NLT)

But soon it will be your turn to be disgraced. Come, drink and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the LORD’s judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame.

Isaiah called it a cup of terror. Jeremiah called it a cup filled to the brim with God’s anger. Habakkuk called it a cup of the Lord’s Judgement. In the Garden, Jesus asked God to let the CUP OF SUFFERING PASS.

We have seen God’s wrath in other places in the Bible…In the flood that covered the earth. In the fire that fell on Sodom and Gomorrah. In the ten plagues that crushed Egypt.

But on the cross, God’s wrath over sin would fall on Jesus. That is what Jesus feared. That is what He faced. And the disciples saw every bit of it. They saw His back ripped open by the scourging. They heard His final breath. They watched Him die. And they knew, nobody could possibly be alive after that.

If you have heard the message that JESUS is ALIVE over and over again, yet walk away with doubt, understand so did the very same men that followed Jesus!

Jesus stood in the same room.  He looked these men eye to eye…yet they STILL had their doubts! They wanted to believe – but because of the punishment Jesus paid for our sin, they just couldn’t.

Is that you? Maybe you really would like to believe that Jesus is alive, but you have your doubts. If the disciples - who talked with Jesus face to face - struggled to believe, it makes sense that some still struggle today. But Jesus did not give up on the disciples. He kept showing up.

And then we read in verse 45 that everything began to change…

Luke 24:45 (NLT2)

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

JESUS STILL OPENS MINDS TO BELIEVE

So if you want to believe - ask Him. Right now. In your own words, say, “God, open my mind to understand Jesus.”

After Jesus opened their minds to understand, He taught them...

LUKE 24:46b-47 (NLT)

…it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

If you asked God to open up your mind, the first thing Jesus wants you to understand is WHY he suffered, why he died, and why he rose from the dead. Jesus suffered, died, and rose from the dead, for YOU to receive forgiveness for your sin, and repent.

1 Peter 3:18 (NLT2)

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Jesus rose from the dead to bring you safely home to God.

Maybe today God has opened your mind to understand Jesus. Maybe something has clicked, and you understand why Jesus paid the price for your sin. In verse 47, Jesus said, “There is forgiveness of sin for all who repent.”

There is forgiveness of sin for all who repent. The word repent simply means, to change your direction.  It’s a U-turn. Repentance changes your direction.

REPENTANCE LAUNCHES A NEW LIFE

When Jesus opened their minds, the disciples chose to believe that Jesus was alive, that he had died for their sins, and they fully believed by surrendering their lives to him through repentance.

In order to be forgiven for your sins, you too must repent. In order to experience a brand new life, in order to start over, you must first repent.

PRAYER OF REPENTANCE

“God,

I BELIEVE that Jesus paid my penalty for sin on the cross.

I BELIEVE he died and rose from the dead.

I BELIEVE he is now with you in Heaven, and one day he will return.

I CHANGE MY DIRECTION and SURRENDER my life to you to be my SAVIOR…

THANK YOU for forgiving me and changing my life.

AMEN.”

If God has been speaking to you today, apply it to your life, invite a friend, and I will see you back here next week. Let’s keep loving God with all our heart, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Easter - The Crucifixion

Next Sunday, we’ll celebrate the most significant event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, before we reach the empty tomb, we must sit at the foot of the cross. Because before Jesus rose, He bled. Before there was life, there was sacrifice.

Today, we’re walking through Luke 23:26–56, the crucifixion of Jesus. But this isn’t just a history lesson. This is the moment that changed eternity. This is the moment that changes you.

Luke 23:26–56

26 As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the days are coming when they will say, ‘Fortunate indeed are the women who are childless, the wombs that have not borne a child and the breasts that have never nursed.’ 30 People will beg the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and plead with the hills, ‘Bury us.’ 31 For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[f]

35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” 48 And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 49 But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.

50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

Jesus Took Our Place

Luke tells us that Jesus wasn’t crucified alone. Two criminals were led out with Him—men guilty of their crimes. But Jesus? He had done nothing wrong. And yet, He’s treated like the worst of them. He’s mocked, beaten, and nailed to a cross like a criminal. And then, with blood dripping from His body and the weight of the world’s sin crushing His shoulders, Jesus says: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Church, that’s your Savior

Not crying out in rage. Not defending Himself. He’s asking God to forgive the very people killing Him. Why? Because this wasn’t just a tragedy—it was a divine exchange. Jesus took our place.

Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death,” and someone had to pay. That someone was Jesus. He took what we deserved so we could receive what He earned. Let that hit your heart today: Jesus died for you. He died instead of you.

Grace Is Offered to the Undeserving

As the cross stands tall, one of the criminals joins in the mocking. But the other criminal speaks up. He says, “We’re getting what we deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he looks at Jesus—beaten, bloody, dying—and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

What does Jesus say? “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Are you kidding me? No good deeds. No baptism. No church attendance. Just a simple request: “Remember me.” And Jesus says, “I will. You’re coming with me.” That’s grace.

Grace doesn’t wait for you to clean yourself up. Grace meets you right where you are. Grace says, “You still belong.” And maybe some of you today feel like that criminal; you’ve made mistakes, you’ve messed up big time, and you wonder if it’s too late.

It’s not. If you still have breath in your lungs, you still have a chance to say yes to Jesus.

Darkness Fell So Light Could Shine

Luke says it was noon midday when darkness covered the land for three hours. Creation itself responded to the death of its Creator. Then, in verse 46, Jesus cries out, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands.” And with that, He breathed His last. This wasn’t defeat.

Jesus didn’t get killed; He gave up His life. He chose this moment. He laid it down. And in doing so, He took on all the darkness of the world so you could walk in the light. The cross is not just about pain. It’s about purpose.

He was separated so you could be brought near. He was crushed so you could be healed. He was abandoned so you could be accepted. That’s the power of the cross.

The Cross Demands a Response

After Jesus dies, the Roman centurion, this hardened soldier who had likely witnessed countless crucifixions, praises God and says, “Surely this man was innocent.” Other people beat their chests and walked away in grief. Still others, like the women who had followed Jesus, stayed close.

Everyone saw the same cross, but not everyone responded the same way. And the same is true today. The cross demands a response. You can walk away from it and keep living like nothing’s changed…You can feel sad, feel convicted, and then go back to life as usual…Or you can fall to your knees and say, “Jesus, I believe. You died for me. I give you my life.” There is no neutral ground at the cross.

Let me ask you: What’s your response to the cross?

This is not just a story from 2,000 years ago, it’s your invitation today. To receive forgiveness. To find healing. To begin a life-changing relationship with the Savior who gave His life for you. Jesus took your place. He offers you grace. He carried your darkness. Now He asks for your response.

If today you want to say yes to Jesus…If you want to come back to the God who never gave up on you…If you’re ready to stop running, stop pretending, and just surrender…

Then pray this in your heart with me:

“Jesus, I believe You died for me. I believe You rose again. I give You my heart, my past, my future. I don’t want to live without You anymore. Today, I surrender. Be my Savior. Be my Lord. Amen.”

Next week, we celebrate the empty tomb. But today, we honor the cross, the place where death met its match. And where love paid the price for our freedom.

The cross changed everything. Let it change you.

Easter - Agony & Temptation

Last week, we concluded our Spiritual Warfare series by talking about the Valley of Darkness in Psalm 23.  And today, we are launching our four-week Easter series, and we will look at the temptation  Jesus faced in the Garden, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the ascension into heaven.

If you have ever given into temptation – and afterward thought – how on earth did I end up here – today’s message will help you out.

In 4th grade, I was playing “Keep Away” on the playground. Keep Away was a little like Rugby and football. We had two teams, and each team would kick off to the other team, and the receiving team would try to run the ball all the way back down the field into the endzone.  We would pass it back and forth…but if you were tackled with the ball, it immediately became the other team's ball. I wasn’t wearing my glasses…so I couldn’t see the ball. The team kicked the ball off to us…I scooped up the ball and began to run like mad toward the end zone.  As the OTHER TEAM is chasing me down, one of my own teammates, Tammy, is behind me screaming, “Back Door!”  “Back Door!” I had no idea that she wanted me to throw the ball back to her. I thought she was yelling at me to go toward the back door of the school…So I aimed for the door and kept going. Suddenly, Tammy grabs the short hairs on the back of my head and jerks me to the ground. The ball fell…the other team picked it up and started making their way down the field. Tammy is standing over me, yelling, “I said, Back Door!”  I felt confused and disoriented.  I couldn’t believe one of my own teammates took me out.

For many, the feeling I felt lying there on the ground is the very same that many have when temptation overtakes them and they give into temptation and choose to sin rather than to obey God’s will. They think, I was running along so well, I can’t believe I did this….How did I wind up down here?

Luke 22:39-46 (NLT2)

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40  There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41  He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42  “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43  Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44  He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45  At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46  “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

There is a medical condition called Hematidrosis (He-muh-ta-drosis). You can look it up on WebMD. On rare occasions, if an individual goes through intense pressure and stress, they sometimes actually sweat blood through their skin. This wasn’t a pretty picture.  Jesus wasn’t saying a PROPER churchy prayer.  He was kneeling on the ground, groveling, begging, and pleading with God that he would not have to suffer. This was the JESUS – fully God and fully man, experiencing the fear of death, pain, and torture.

But it was not only the concern of physical pain and death that Jesus was experiencing that caused blood to seep out of the pores of his skin. Jesus told his disciples twice to pray… so that they would not “enter into” temptation. Have you ever wondered what temptation was that Jesus was so concerned about? It was not a temptation toward lust. The disciples were not lounging around the couch late at flipping through channels and seeing flesh on TV.  They weren’t browsing the internet. They weren’t rolling dice, playing cards, and gambling money at the local casino. They weren’t fighting with one another or stealing money. It wasn’t a temptation to gossip or slander others.

The temptation that Jesus cautioned his friends about was the very same temptation he was in agony over.  In the Garden…Jesus faced the temptation to do what HE wanted to do, rather than do what God wanted him to do. Jesus was being torn apart in agony because he wanted to be obedient to God – but he didn’t want to walk the talk. Jesus was in agony because he wanted to obey God, but he didn’t want to carry his cross. He wanted to obey God, but he didn’t want to be arrested, whipped, and tortured.  He wanted to free people from their sins, but he didn’t want to be crucified. That is why Jesus sweat blood. He was torn.

TEMPTATION IS STRONGER WHEN YOU ARE ALONE

All he asked of his friends was that they stay awake and pray.  This was a group of friends that he had “done life” with for the past three years. Jesus had healed Peter’s mother-in-law. He had blessed them with a ridiculous catch of fish that they could profit off of. He laughed with them, spent time with them, and invested in them even when nobody else would give them the time of day…He gave them hope. He showed them God’s love. And now, when Jesus wanted his friends to pray, they couldn’t even stay awake.

So, Jesus faced the worst time of his life, alone. Maybe you know what that is like. Maybe you know what it is like to face difficulties, changes, temptation, diagnoses, and fears all alone. Perhaps you do not have any friends who will gather around you and pray with you as you walk through struggles in this life. You don’t have too anymore.  I can not say this more plainly: Join a lifegroup!

Last fall, Kristy and I joined a life group.  And, we are growing to care for one another. We are growing to trust one another.  We are building friendships rooted in the Word of God, his love, and love for each other. If you are walking through life alone, you do not have to. Maybe you have joined a lifegroup in the past and it wasn’t a good fit. Try again. God has a circle of friends waiting for you.  They will help you turn and trust in God during seasons of challenge and change.  And, they will be able to stand with you when you face temptations of all kinds.

If you are a follower of Jesus…and you are serious about following Jesus, you understand that…

NO BELIEVER IS IMMUNE TO TEMPTATION

1 COR. 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man…

As a follower of Jesus, sometimes we convince ourselves that other believers have it together and WE are the only ones who struggle with sin. We know others struggle with the temptation to sin – but we sometimes convince ourselves that others don’t struggle like WE DO. We think, “They read their Bibles all the time; they don’t struggle like me…Something must be wrong with me…”

Every marriage is hard.  Parenting is hard. Finances are hard. Obedience to God is hard. Life is hard. And just like Jesus faced in the Garden, in the midst of the HARD, temptation OVERTAKES us all and we give into temptation and sin.

So where does that temptation come from? I am convinced that our MEMORIES can stir up a desire and temptation to sin. Think about it. Jesus was and always will be God. Jesus existed long before he became a human.  He knew what it was like to EXIST as LORD overall. Before he became a human, he could do all He wanted to do.

But when he became a human, he gave up his rights as God…and in the Garden…Jesus was tempted to TAKE UP his rights once again. His MEMORIES of his LIFE AS GOD stirred up this DESIRE he faced to take control of his own life and do what he wanted to do. And you and I need to understand that…with certainty:

PAST PLEASURES CAN REIGNITE PRESENT TEMPTATIONS
(JAMES 1:13-14)

Usually, we are only going to be tempted to do something that we like to do.  We are only going to be tempted to do something that we find pleasure in.

There are things that we like and things we do not like. For instance, chocolate. The only reason you find pleasure and enjoy eating chocolate is because you have tasted it before.

James 1:14 (NLT2)

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

A DESIRE to sin occurs only because we have experienced it or something similar to it before…and we liked it! Maybe the experience came through people, places, or your past. Maybe you remember how you used to live before you became a follower of Jesus. Memories of experiences that appealed to us in the past, can stir up temptation in our present and future. If we enjoyed it in the past, our flesh tells us we will enjoy it again.

This highlights the importance of guarding our families, ourselves, and our marriages today. We may have messed up in the past – but we know if we give into those pleasures in the future, it could damage those around us, and hinder our relationship with God. Parents, it is vital that you stand with your children to guard their eyes and hearts while they are young. Internet filters, cell phone apps, password codes for the tv channels…  If your child or teenager ever stumbles one time in this area – those lingering memories of what they saw will stay with them for a lifetime. So guard against creating new memories that could lead to temptations by gathering with friends and practicing prayer, because,

PRAYER + GODLY FRIENDS = POWER TO OVERCOME
(JAMES 4:6-8, HEB 2:18)

If you have been walking blindly into temptation after temptation…strengthen your prayer life. Begin to pray on a regular basis what Jesus prayed in the Garden – not my will, but your will be done. Ask God for his will to be done in your marriage, with your children, at your work…Ask God to help you be content and trust in His plan for you.

The brother of Jesus, writes in James 4:7:

James 4:7-8 (NLT2)

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

We see Jesus demonstrate this truth in the Garden.  He humbled himself before God. He bared his soul. He resisted temptation and God strengthened him. And Jesus will strengthen you today. Whatever you are facing. Whatever you are challenged with. If you surround yourself with friends. If you begin to pray like never before and humble yourself to God…Every temptation you face in life CAN be overcome.  You have Jesus on your side fighting for you…

Hebrews 2:18 (NLT)

Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

And I thank God that He has not left us alone to walk in this world. He has given us friends, he promises to help us himself.

The Ascension

Last week, we examined the Resurrection, and this week, we will examine Jesus's ascension.

Let’s read together:

Luke 24:36-53 (NLT2) 

36  And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37  But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38  “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39  Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40  As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41  Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42  They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43  and he ate it as they watched. 44  Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46  And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48  You are witnesses of all these things. 49  “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” 50  Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52  So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53  And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God. 

If you are a follower of Jesus, you made the decision to trust your life to Jesus at some point. If you surrendered your life to God, you understood that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin, you asked him to forgive you, and you accepted him as your Savior.

That only happened because, as we see in verse 45…

GOD HAS OPENED YOUR MIND TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE v. 45

The disciples had seen Jesus do some pretty amazing things. He healed people who were disfigured. He fixed the sight of people who were blind. He healed the deaf, and they could hear. Over and over, he healed people with diseases. 

Miracle. After Miracle. After Miracle.

Now, in order for his disciples to become fully convinced that Jesus was truly the Savior that the Old Testament prophets had prophesied about, Jesus opened their minds. These disciples had heard the Old Testament prophecy.  In fact, by the age of 10, boys had to have memorized the first five books of the Old Testament. Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy.  In the Jewish language, that was roughly 80,000 words! Most likely, these men had memorized these five books of the Bible, and they attended the synagogues each week to worship God and hear the teaching of God’s word on the Sabbath.

But even though they had memorized 80,000 words. Even though they attended the synagogue for worship every week of their lives. Even though they spent roughly three years with Jesus. They were still limited in their understanding of scripture. They knew God created them. They knew that Adam and Eve chose to sin, and sin entered the world. They knew that all descendants of Adam and Eve sinned. They knew THEY were sinners…and they knew they were separated from God…but they did not UNDERSTAND why JESUS died on the cross and rose from the dead.

They heard but did not understand. They HEARD but did not truly get it. Hey, parents, does that remind you of anybody? 

We spend half our time parenting, reminding our children of what we have already told them to do. But honestly, our kids get it from us! It is a common problem throughout the history of man.

Ezekiel 12:2 (NLT2) 

2  “Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people. 

I grew up Catholic. I understood that God created me. I understood Jesus paid the price for sin on the cross. I understood he rose from the dead. But nothing in me changed until God opened my mind to understand how to surrender my life to Jesus. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, it is only because a miracle has occurred. God has opened your mind to understand the hope found in the Bible, that means God loves you and has chosen to open your mind to HIS TRUTH about your life. You have been FORGIVEN.

And we also see in this passage…

FORGIVENESS IS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH CHANGE v. 47

In verse 47, Jesus said,  “There is forgiveness of sin for all who repent.”

REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS are two separate words that communicate one idea.  Some people need clarification about the word repentance. They live their lives thinking repentance means living a life filled with remorse, guilt, and shame from their past. They don’t allow themselves to become the person God has created them to be because they do not understand what repentance actually is. Repentance is simply a “change in direction.”  

Suppose you are in your car on the 501 headed to Conway. But instead of going west on the 501, you are driving east!  Instead of heading to Conway, you are driving to the Coast. You must change your direction to arrive in Conway. If you want to get to Conway before you drive into the Ocean, you make a UTURN and change your direction…

That is what it means to REPENT. When you repent and surrender your life to Jesus, you make a UTURN in life. If you have been forgiven, you will WANT to please God.  

You will show signs that you reject the sinful lifestyle you have been living, and you will stop doing those things. Some things you will stop doing immediately, and other sins may take some time, but the difference is…but there has been an inward change because you have been forgiven.

The word FORGIVEN is actually a mathematical term. 

In the days of Jesus, when an individual borrowed money from a lender, their name was written down in a book or ledger. As the person made payments on what he owed, the payment was subtracted, and a new balance would be recorded. But if the lender FORGAVE the debt, they would open the book, find the name, and completely blot out that individual's name and amount due. It was erased. It was as though it never existed in the first place. The person who owed that money was no longer bound to the lender. They were no longer loaded down with debt…they were free.

God has dealt with sin the same way. If you have surrendered your life to Christ and received Jesus as your Savior, it is now as though your sin had never existed in the first place. Your sin has been erased through the sacrifice of Jesus. Your sin has been removed from existence. You do not need to live like you are still loaded down with the guilt and the weight of your past lives.  You have been set free. So live like it. Embrace the freedom that God has given to you through Jesus.  Demonstrate the freedom of forgiveness through a visible change in your life.  

LIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT v.49

This is the fantastic part of what happens when you become a follower of Jesus. When you receive forgiveness for your sins, you also receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples he was sending the promise of his Father to the disciples and for them to…

Luke 24:49 (NLT2) 

49  “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” 

We see this incredible promise fulfilled in Acts 2.  After Jesus ascended into heaven, these men and women gathered in a room. They were praying, then…

Acts 2:2-6 (NLT2) 

2  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit…

If you are new to following Jesus, please understand. The HOLY SPIRIT of God does not live inside a church building, a statue, or a painting on the wall.  The Holy Spirit of God lives inside YOU. Growing up, I was told the church building was God’s House.

I had to speak reverently and quietly. I had to dress nice. I couldn’t wear a hat. I was told to behave in God’s HOUSE. I now know that God does not live inside brick, steel, and drywall. The house of the Holy Spirit is reserved for God’s most incredible creation—you and me.  

What a blessing to know that we are not abandoned and left to figure out life on our own! You have been changed not through your decision but through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Lean into the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Let Him Guide you to be baptized, serve, or invite others to worship with you. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in your generosity and your relationships.

So, since God opened your mind, you have been changed and now have the Holy Spirit. You can live under the influence of the Holy Spirit! That means…

JESUS BLESSED OTHERS, AND SO CAN YOU. v. 50

Luke 24:50 (NLT2) 

50  Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 

The word BLESSED can be hard to understand. I was an altar boy. I remember the Priest taking Holy Water and flicking it on people in the church – and they considered that a blessing.   

In the movie Rocky…right before his big fight, Rocky asks Father Carmine for a blessing. Father Carmine says a prayer in Italian and makes the sign of the cross. We say God Bless you when somebody sneezes. But what does it mean to bless others biblically?

A BLESSING means:  TO SPEAK WELL OF, TO THANK, OR TO ASK GOD’S FAVOR UPON AN INDIVIDUAL. 

So, as Jesus was leaving, he wasn’t telling his disciples that they better have their rooms clean when he got back home. He did not threaten to punish them if they did something wrong while he was gone. Before he ascended into Heaven, Jesus spoke well of his disciples, thanked them, and asked God’s favor upon them.   

He BLESSED them through ENCOURAGEMENT.  He Spoke words of LIFE over them. He didn’t point out all their flaws – and certainly could have – instead, he focused on using his words to cause their hearts to swell with joy…not just joy – GREAT JOY. Typically when somebody is saying goodbye to a loved one headed out for a long trip, moving away, or even passing from this life…most don’t waste their breath being critical. Some might.  But most people will not waste their being critical and talking about how much their loved ones have disappointed them. 

It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which Frank Costanza creates a holiday called Festivus, and at the Festivus dinner, he goes around the table and tells everybody why he is sick of them! The sad truth is that while many people may not have a Festivus tradition like that, many choose to live every day like that.

They use their words to criticize, tear down, and destroy others.   

They use their words and influence to hurt others…and who knows why?   

WORDS of BLESSING can bring great JOY to others. 

Don’t you feel good when others speak well of you?  

Don’t you feel good when somebody goes out of their way to say THANK YOU to you and appreciate and value you?   

So, let's model our lives after Jesus and bless others, encourage them, and say words that will help them, not destroy them.

Easter - 2024

Growing up, my family had a tradition in which the Easter Bunny had hidden our Easter Basket filled with candy around the house, and we had to find it.  Sometimes, the baskets were hidden so well that I was certain The Easter Bunny had forgotten about me.

Every Easter, Kristy hides Easter Eggs in the yard, and the girls search for plastic eggs filled with money, candies, and jellybeans.

Can you imagine explaining Easter egg hunts to someone who's never heard of them before? 'So, we celebrate the resurrection... by hiding chocolate eggs... laid by a bunny? Perspective can make our traditions seem a bit quirky. Have you ever noticed that we all respond differently to events?

For instance, if your wife gets a speeding ticket, some husbands will get mad, and some of you will laugh at her.  Wives, If your husband stubs his toe or steps on a Lego in the middle of the night, some wives will laugh, others will hide their giggle, and some won’t wake up. We have different responses to almost everything, including the most incredible event in history, the resurrection of Jesus. Some people respond with belief. Some people respond with disbelief. Some people may not care one way or another.

Today, we celebrate Easter, and I think people respond to the resurrection of Jesus the exact same way.  Some refuse to believe.  Some have doubts. Some fully believe. That is precisely how it was at the time of the resurrection. Many of the followers of Jesus did not believe he had risen from the dead. Even after they talked with him, they still struggled to believe he was actually alive. Today, we will examine Luke 24 and discover how those who did not believe Jesus had risen came to the conclusion that he was indeed alive. 

We will do that because you may relate to the people who could not believe that Jesus was alive, and I want to help you move from unbelief or ambivalence to belief and faith in Jesus. So, Let’s read about the events that happened three days after Jesus had been killed on the cross and buried in a tomb.

Luke 24:1-11 (NLT2) 

1  But very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3  So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4  As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5  The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6  He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7  that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” 8  Then they remembered that he had said this. 9  So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11  But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 

“Very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb.” 

Now, I don’t know about you, but getting anywhere very early on a Sunday is miraculous in itself, especially if you have kids. It makes sense to me that if anybody ever wanted Jesus to be alive – it would have been the men who followed him for three years of their lives. When somebody you love dies tragically and suddenly, you miss them and want them to be alive. The disciples aren’t any different. This wasn’t a long, drawn-out battle with cancer or disease.  One moment, Jesus was healthy and enjoying dinner with his closest friends; the next moment, he was arrested and murdered. They saw him work miracles and change lives. They ate with him, learned from him, and saw the hope he brought to people. 

I am sure they wanted Jesus to be alive more than anybody.  Yet,

THE DISCIPLES REFUSED TO BELIEVE.

The word Luke used in verse 11 that describes where the friends of Jesus were on their journey to belief was:

Apisteo (aw pis tay o:) to have no belief, to disbelieve

The disciple's first response was not “Hurray! He is alive!”  

Their first response was, “No way! That’s not possible!”  

They thought the women were nuts! They refused to believe Jesus was alive. That may be where you are today.  

You believe Jesus existed, that he did good things, and that you may even appreciate what he taught about forgiving others, loving those who do not deserve it, and the kindness and compassion he showed. You believe that he was put to death by execution on the cross…but like the disciple’s early response, you refuse to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

It is important to note that the disciples changed.  Their minds were changed. They went from “refusing to believe” to fully surrendering to Jesus.

How did they get there? 

Well, between verses 12 and 36, Jesus made a few special appearances.  

• Jesus appeared to a couple of men walking down a road and talked with them.

• Then he appeared to Peter.  

• Then he appeared to his disciples to show them the nails in his hands and feet.  

And the disciples got together, and they were talking about it.  Jesus appeared to me, me too! He showed us his hands and feet…We had an entire conversation with him…

Luke 24:36-41 shows us that the disciples moved from refusing to believe that Jesus was alive…they conceded a little ground…

And now…

THE DISCIPLES DESIRED TO BELIEVE (v. 38, 41)

Luke 24:36-41A (NLT2) 

36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder…

When Jesus said, “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?” He used the word:

Dialogismos (dē-ä-lo-gē-smoss): the thinking of a man deliberating with himself.  A deliberating, questioning about what is true.  Hesitation, doubting, disputing, arguing.

They desired to believe. They made eye contact with Jesus. They saw the wounds on his hands and feet. They wanted to believe, but they were torn by what they saw happened to Jesus at the cross. Their resistance to embrace the TRUTH of Jesus being alive reinforces the suffering and brutality of the cross. Before Jesus was arrested in the Garden, he had been pleading with God to find another way to bring forgiveness to mankind rather than face the brutality of the cross.

Luke 22:42 (NLT2) 

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

We do not understand the phrase “cup of suffering” the way the Jewish people did back then. In the Old Testament, “the cup” is often used as a metaphor for the wrath of God. 

Isaiah 51:17 (NLT) 

17  Wake up, wake up, O Jerusalem! You have drunk the cup of the LORD’s fury. You have drunk the cup of terror, tipping out its last drops.

Jeremiah 25:15 (NLT) 

15  This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled to the brim with my anger, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. 

Habakkuk 2:16 (NLT) 

16  But soon it will be your turn to be disgraced. Come, drink, and be exposed! Drink from the cup of the LORD’s judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame. 

Isaiah called it a cup of terror.  Jeremiah called it a cup filled to the brim with God’s anger. Habakkuk called it a cup of the Lord’s Judgement. 

Throughout the Bible, we see glimpses of God’s Wrath:

• God’s Anger over sin is seen in the great flood that destroyed the earth…

• God’s wrath destroys Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone.

• God’s wrath is seen in the 10 Plagues upon Egypt.

It was not the physical agony of the beatings, the scourging, and the crucifixion that Jesus dreaded. It was the spiritual agony He would experience as he drank every last drop of God’s wrath that we deserved.
The Disciples watched the physical brutality of the cross. They watched the flesh ripped from his back through the scourging. They heard his final words and watched him breathe his final breath. They saw his dead body. They knew NO MAN was going to come back from that.

If you have heard the message that Jesus is ALIVE over and over yet walk away with doubt, understand that the very same men followed Jesus! Jesus stood in the same room.  They made eye contact with Jesus, yet they STILL had doubts!  They wanted to believe, but they just couldn't because of what they had already seen.

Is that you? Maybe you really would like to believe that Jesus is alive – but because of the troubles, difficulties, and emptiness you have experienced in this world, you struggle with accepting. If the disciples who walked and talked with Jesus after he was resurrected struggled with believing – it is understandable that 2,000 years later, men and women struggle with fully believing in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Let’s look one more time in Luke 24, and we will discover that…

THE DISCIPLES FULLY BELIEVED, AND THEIR LIVES WERE CHANGED

Luke 24:45-47 (NLT2) 

45  Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46  And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47  It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

What did it take for these men to have faith?  The same thing still required today. For us to believe in JESUS as SAVIOR – God must open our minds to believe. If you have repeatedly heard about Jesus’ death and resurrection yet still have doubts or think, “So what? That is not going to change anything about my life...” 

I want you to understand why you think that way. The Apostle Paul tells us why some people do not believe:

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT2) 

4  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ... 

So, if you desire to believe, ask God to open your mind to believe. Ask God to remove the blindfold preventing you from becoming a follower of Jesus. You can ask him right now. 

“God, please remove the blindfold on my mind. If Jesus did rise from the dead, that changes everything. I would like to believe, but I need you to open my mind.”

Take a moment right now.  In your own words, say, “ God, open my mind to understand Jesus.”

Then, in verse 46, Jesus taught them that the Savior of the World would have to suffer and die.  God opened their minds, and they understood now that Jesus was the Savior who endured the “cup of suffering for all people” so that mankind might never have to experience God’s wrath again.

They understood the words that Jesus told them in John 3:16:

John 3:16 (NLT2) 

16  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Maybe at this moment, God has opened your mind to understand Jesus. Maybe something has clicked, and you understand how much God loves you. In verse 47, Jesus said, “There is forgiveness of sin for all who repent.”

The word that Jesus used for “repent” communicates a shift or change in thinking. The Disciples SHIFTED their thoughts about Jesus. This was the moment they put their DISBELIEF behind them—they chose to believe that Jesus was alive and that he had died for their sins, and they fully believed by surrendering their lives to him through repentance.

To repent – you, too, must have that SHIFT in your thinking. If you would like to repent, be forgiven for your sins, and become a follower of Jesus today, pray this with me:

God, 

I believe that Jesus suffered for my disobedience on the cross and died.

I believe he rose from the dead; he is now with you in Heaven 

and will return to earth one day. 

I surrender my life to you as my Savior.

Thank you for forgiving my sin and changing my life.

In Jesus name, Amen.