Bible Study Series: The Power Of The Blood, 1 Peter 1:19

 THE POWER OF THE BLOOD

1 Peter 1:19

1 Peter 1:19-21

but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

The world focuses on the celebration of Jesus on two occasions, Christmas and Easter.

These two Holy Days have become robbers' dens. Shopping centers are filled with

gifts for Christmas and new outfits for Easter. We spend weeks getting prepared

for the holidays which loses their excitement when the days have passed.

What if we could maintain that excitement throughout the year. Would Christ be

lost in gifts and Easter outfits?

This year we celebrated Easter, the resurrection of Christ on April 19^th. Do you

realize that there is one more important day that the Christian world fails to

celebrate? The day of Pentecost, the day the Church received its power. It was

50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus the Holy Spirit was given. The

power that works in all believers. It was the day the preaching of the Gospel

began. It was the day when the Power of the Blood Of Jesus began to take its

everlasting effect (Acts 2:1-4) Pentecost would occur the first week in June

Looking back at the cross, we must remember the blood. There were 3 nails,

one cross and one perfect sacrifice, and blood streaming down on Jesus.

Standing at the foot of the cross, we see hands, feet, and sides, all distilling crimson streams of precious blood. It is "precious" because of its redeeming and atoning efficacy.

Looking up at the cross; If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me

We need to see ourselves as low and Him as high

We need to see ourselves as humble and weak servants.

We need to see ourselves as sin-sick men and women

We came humbly and bowed to His feet

Jesus was where the Father wanted Him to Be

Jesus was where He volunteered to be

We are where we were designed to be, at His feet with uplifted hearts.

We see a body, bloody, twisted, torn but wholly readied for the glorious resurrection

We see the blood of Jesus streaming down, for our salvation

The flow of the blood

From His Head with a crown of thorns Our King, His glory

From His Hands for our love

From His Sides For our cleaning and redemption

From His Feet For wisdom, strength, and courage

By His blood, the sins of Christ's people are atoned for. We are redeemed from under the law and reconciled to God, made one with Him. The Old Testament has 613 commands given by the Lord. We are not under the Law. We are under grace.

Why the law?

Galatians 3:24

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The blood of Jesus is the power that works in our lives.

CLEANING POWER

Christ's blood is also "precious" in its cleansing power;

Hebrews 9:14

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

The blood prepares us to serve according to God’s will.

The blood"cleans from all sin." It removes the stain of sin. It removes the judgment of

sin. It removes the evidence of sin

Blood is the evidence of infinite love.

It is Christ's blood. It's the blood of our elder brother. It is the blood that never participated in

sin. The only blood that was qualified for salvation

The blood is working on you and me at this moment.

ATONING POWER.

Romans 3:25-26

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.

It has the power to release us from the guilty verdict of our sins. It the continuous

release of sin for now and forever. It is the constant communication between the

Father and the Son concerning the dissolving of our sin debt.

PRESERVING POWER

The blood of Christ is likewise "precious" in its preserving power. We are safe from the destroying angel under the sprinkled blood. Remember it is God's seeing the blood which is the true reason for our being spared. Here is comfort for us when the eye of faith is dim, for God's eye is still the same.

Can you remember the first Passover in Egypt? It was the blood on the doorpost

of Israelites that was the sign for the death angel to pass by.

It is our faith in the blood of Jesus that signaled the death angel to pass by you today.

SANCTIFYING POWER

Sanctify means to make holy, purify

The blood of Christ is "precious" also in its sanctifying influence. The same blood which justifies by taking away sin, does in its after-action, quicken the new nature and lead it onward to subdue sin and to follow out the commands of God. There is no motive for holiness so great as that which streams from the veins of Jesus.

John 17:17-19

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

OVERCOMING POWER

And "precious," unspeakably precious, is this blood because it has an overcoming power. It is written, "They overcame through the blood of the Lamb."

Revelation 12:11

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death.

You and I do not have the power to overcome sin. We cannot fight Satan but

with the power of the blood

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

55 "Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?"

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

The Blood of Jesus is precious because its efficacy. It produced the desired results

It made perfect all His chosen

Hebrews 10:13-14

Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Joy made complete

John 15:11

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete

Peace in the hearts of believers

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

SAVING POWER

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Look again at the cross

Grace and Mercy working

Faith on display

Love covered the world

Obedience mastered

Forgiveness flowing

Eternity glorified

Death defeated

Look at the Cross one more time

See the Finish Line and Victory Displayed for all to See

Look Again and hear THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED

Look again at the cross. There is no Body

Go to the tomb, there is nobody

Where is He? Seated at the right hand of the Father

1 Peter 2:6-7

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

will never be put to shame."

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious

ARE YOU STILL EXCITED?

WILL YOU RUN TO THE CHURCH TO SEE JESUS?

ARE YOU HOPEFUL, JOYFUL, AND CONFIDENT?

THE BLOOD IS STILL WORKING

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Light Of The World", Luke 8:22-35, 4/29/23

 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

John 8:12-21

Whenever Jesus taught the Word, His adversaries were always present. The ones

who hated His teaching were the religious leaders. The teachers of the Law, the

Chief priests, the Pharisees, and the elders of the Synagogues.

Earlier in the text the religious leaders tried to find a reason to accuse Him by

bringing a lady caught in adultery. Jesus stoop down and wrote on the ground.

Let me suggest the first time He stooped, He wrote the first 5 commandments.

The second time He stoop, He wrote the 2^nd 5 commandments. He said if any one of you is without sin, cast the first stone. All the accusers of the woman

left. Jesus taught the Word and used it to backup His claims to be the

Son of God.

Let this be a lesson to use the Word of God to support your worth and beliefs.

You cannot fight those who hate you with human reasoning, You fight with

the Word of God.

JESUS CLAIMS TO BE GOD

V:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The Jewish nation was living in a dark world waiting for the Son to shine.

Their problem was they had Jewish religious leaders who relied on their

traditions rather than the Word of God. The nation had moved away from God

to a form of religion, based on their custom, thoughts, and ideas. Thirty years

into His life on earth, Jesus began teaching the truth which the Jewish leaders

refused to believe. The light can only be found in the Word of God.

Jesus taught this message in the Temple court. Jesus said I Am the Light Of the

World. As the planets revolve around the sun. The spiritual world revolves

around the Son. All plants and animals need the light of the sun to grow. Man

needs the Light of Jesus for spiritual growth.

With the I AM statement Jesus claimed to be God. He is all-knowing. He can not learn

anything, because He knows the full and complete truth.

Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

9 What has been will be again,

what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there anything which one can say,

"Look! This is something new"?

It was here already, long ago;

it was here before our time.

John Chapter 1 starts with “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God

and the Word Was God. Everything we need to know is found in the 66 books of

the Bible. You cannot add anything to it or take anything away from it (Revelations 22:18).

This I AM claim was made in the Temple court doing the Passover Festival. Jesus may

have had in view the light of the seven-branch Candelabrum which provided

continuous light with olive oil in the Holy Place. Seven is the number of completion.

Jesus is the complete Word. We need the completeness of Jesus for eternal life.

THE WITNESS AGAINST THE DEVIL IS THE WORD

V:13 The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."

14 Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.

The Pharisees saw Jesus as a preacher/teacher from Galilee and nothing more.

They listen carefully to every word He spoke to find fault, and not to understand

the truth.

The Jews believed that the truth was established by two or more witnesses.

Deuteronomy 19:15

A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

The Jewish leaders knew the Word but only quoted the Word to support

their own traditions. When the truth is in question, it can only be supported by

the truth. Jesus referred to the truth of their ignorance of Him. All believers are in

a growth process. We must be open to learning more about Jesus. God's knowledge is

infinite. We only know what we have heard, read, and believe which is like a grain

of sand on a seashore.

Most Jewish leaders hated Jesus because He questioned their knowledge and

authority with His teachings. I also believe the Jewish leaders were envious

of Jesus because He drew large crowds when He spoke. Perhaps they feared losing

their influence over the Jewish people.

John 7:47-49

47 "You mean he has deceived you also?" the Pharisees retorted. 48 "Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law — there is a curse on them."

Unbelievers don’t know Jesus or the truth He speaks in the Word. Jesus is Lord

and Savior, but unbelievers will never know Him.

All of us were born in sin and shaped in inequity. We were born into this world

in an unbelieving state. But by the grace of God, we were chosen before the

foundation of the earth to be with Jesus (Ephesians 1:4) Once born in sin the Lord drew us to the marvelous light (John 6:44).

JESUS IS THE FINAL JUDGE

V:15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."

19 Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"

"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

Sometimes the truth is rejected because people don’t believe in the one who speaks

it. The Jewish leader believed in themselves and their vast misunderstanding of

the Law. They judged people by their beliefs in their traditions and not by the

truth in the Law. They taught the Law but their traditions were their law.

Mark 7:8

8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

Again, the truth must be supported by the truth. Jesus is the judge and the jury.

However. for believers, His judgment is covered with the blood of atonement.

Jesus came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Jesus had two witnesses, Him and His Father. The Jewish leaders did know

Jesus or the Father. They knew of the God they claimed but refused to honor

by not keeping His commands. They knew the Word that prophesied the coming

of the Messiah, his time of birth, his place of birth, and the community He would

be raised. In the presence of the Messiah, they witnessed His supernatural

nature through the miracles He performed and the power of His Word but refused to

believe.

In chapter 7 starting at verse 40, some Jews said He was a prophet, and some said

He was the Christ, but none believed the Christ could come from Galilee. You

cannot let race, nationality, or looks prevent you from receiving the Word of God.

We must put aside our beliefs to accept the Word of God

JESUS IS THE CURE FOR DARKNESS

John 12:44-46

V:44 Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Jesus gives us His mission; to bring light to a dark world. To believe in the Father

you have to believe in Jesus. The Father and the Son are one. You can only get

to heaven through Jesus who was sent by the Father.

You and I cannot physically see Jesus. We must have faith that He exists. The Just

lives by faith and not by sight. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Acts 4:12-13

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

The absence of faith in Jesus is darkness. It is only through Jesus that we can know the

truth. The truth is the spiritual light that blesses all believers. The is found in only

one place, the Word of God. Study to show yourself approved.

Rev. M. Mitchell

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, :Follow Jesus To HEaven", John 6:22-35

 FOLLOW JESUS TO HEAVEN

John 6:22-37

 

MIRACLES UNNOTICED

A good teacher can guide his students from ignorance

To knowledge, from the flesh to the spirit, and, from immaturity to

Maturity.  Jesus was a good teacher. When He ascended back into

Heaven, He sent one just like Him, the Holy Spirit.

 

Jesus meets us where we are and gradually guides us to where we need

To be to serve Him. Jesus had taught the Word and fed 5000

Not including women and children with a boy’s lunch of two fish and five

Pieces of bread. The people focused on the meal, not the miracle of

The meal. Nowhere in the text do we find those that were fed, asking where all the fish and bread came from, and who did the cooking? Other than Jesus, we don’t find anyone thanking the Father for the meal.

 

 

Jesus sent His disciples to the other side of the lake. The fed folk observed

Who got in the boat, but they didn’t see Jesus. Jesus provides for everyone,

The good and the bad. Those who show up to listen and those who show

Up to get are blessed.  Whenever you are in the company of Jesus, believers

Or non-believers, you will be blessed.

 

FOLLOW JESUS TO THE OTHER SIDE TO BE FED

V:22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

People are watching you. They observe when you come and go. They pay

Attention to who you associate with.  If you did something for them once, they

Expect you to do it again. The fed folk followed Jesus across the lake

To be fed again. People will travel great distances to get something free.

 

It should be our business to wake in the morning in search of the spiritual food

From Jesus.  Fulfillment will be found in the continued study of the Word.

 

FOLLOW JESUS TO LEARN THE TRUTH

V.25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"

26 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

 

Jesus does not answer questions that lead down a rabbit hole. He redirects your

Questions to areas of enlightenment. How Jesus got to the other side of the lake

Was not important. What the followers needed to know was the truth

About their motives for following Him.

Why do you come to church? Do you come to learn or be entertained? Do

You come out of habit or to develop a closer relationship with Jesus? Do

You come to learn of Jesus or to tell Jesus what you know? Do you come

To worship the Lord or to be seen?

 

The crowd participated in the miracle of a boy’s lunch meant for one, stretched to

Feed 15000 people if you include women and children. They ate of the

Miracle, but didn’t recognize their meal as a miracle. Every day there are miracles

We don’t recognize it. When our eyes are focused on the flesh we are blinded to

The relationship with Jesus.

 

We shouldn’t follow Jesus to satisfy our stomachs, but follow Jesus to learn of

Him and the power He possesses that connects us to the Father. What we need

Most from Jesus is the truth.

 

FOLLOWING JESUS IS A WORK IN PROCESS

V:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

Notice Jesus refocuses our questions of Him to that which will enlighten us.

He does not get upset because we are slow to learn. He guides us to a place

Where we ask the right questions. To ask the right questions, we need the

Right information.  

 

What we learn here is tolerance for those who are not at our level of

Maturity. Everyone learns at different levels.

 

Don’t work for food for the stomach which lasts a moment, but works for

Food that provides eternal life. It takes an awareness that only by studying

God’s Word that we find the truth that has lasting value.

 

Man changes, our circumstances change, and world ideas change, but the Word

Of God is unchangeable. The Spiritual food we eat does not need the FDA

Approval, because it has the seal of approval from the Father. The Spiritual

Food is the Word which is the Son of God, our Lord, and Savior.

 

THE RIGHT QUESTION

V:28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

 

Days of discussions brought those who followed Jesus across the lake

To the most important question. What must we do to do the work, God

Requires?  The answer Jesus gave would take a change in the hearts of

Followers. To believe that Jesus was sent by the Father was against

Their traditions. According to their traditions. Any person who claims to

Being the Son of God was blasphemy. They couldn’t see Jesus, a

Son of a carpenter, Mary’s son was anything other than a teacher from

Galilee.  However, Jesus spoke the truth they needed.

 

It is only our belief that Jesus was sent by the Father to die for our sins that get us eternal life. For a non-believer, it takes a transformation that

Only Jesus can do it. Everyone who comes to Jesus as something that draws

Them to Him. In this case, the drawing card was fish and bread.

 

WRONG QUESTIONS REVEAL WRONG BELIEFS

V:30 So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"

 

They heard the Word, they had the evidence of the truth of the Word, and

The author of the Word was in front of them but couldn’t believe the Word.

Jesus spoke about spiritual truth, but they were focused on physical proof.

They recalled what Moses did in the desert, but attributed the manna given as

From him and not God. They want proof by the sight of another miracle to believe. In Jesus.  Faith is belief in the Word of God without proof.

 

If we listen carefully to unbelievers, we will discover the areas of enlightenment

They need. The conversation with Jesus revealed why they believed what they

Believed. The conversation also revealed the Word they needed to guide them

To the truth.

 

BELIEVE AND RECEIVE THE BREAD OF LIFE

V:32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

Jesus did not debate their unbelief but gave them more truth to consider.

You and I cannot change anyone’s belief, we must let the Word and

The power of the Holy Spirit does the convicting. Through the power of the

Holy Spirit, hearts are softened and minds are changed.

 

THE RIGHT DESIRE

V.34 "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."

 

This should be our daily prayer, give us this bread for this day. We have a desperate need for the Word of God. We need to be guided and directed by the Word to make the right decision. We need the enlightenment of the Word to resist the devil's deceptions.

 

JESUS NEVER GIVES UP ON YOU

V:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

 

A relationship with Jesus is all we need. When we rely on Jesus we never

Hungry for the desires of the world because Jesus promised to provide

All our needs. We will never thirst for the pleasures of the world because

True joy comes from Jesus. Faith requires us to wait on Jesus and allow

His will to be done in our lives.

 

The just live by faith and not by sight. Many of the followers of Jesus

Wanted more miracles to believe. You will never believe it unless you

See the daily miracles Jesus provides. At night we can’t see the sun, but

We know it exists. In the daytime, we can’t see the stars, but we know

They exist. We can’t see Jesus, but we must have faith that He exists.

We have the evidence in nature, the testimony of the Word, the testimony              of the prophets, and the evidence in our lives that Jesus lives.

 

Who better to follow than the one who made everything, has knowledge

Of all things, and has all power.  I would rather follow the creator than one

Who was created.

 

Isaiah 40:28-29

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

 

 

FOLLOW JESUS TO THE CHURCH

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

We Serve A Living Jesus: John 20:1-20, 4/1/2023

 WE SERVE A LIVING JESUS

John 20:1-21

In the news today there is a public service add that Highlights women in the work

place. This add shows women in leading positions, and supporting position through out cooperate America. The theme is directed at girls, teenagers, and women in the work place

“If you can see HER you can Be Her”

Throughout the Old Testament and the 3 ½ years of Jesus ministry The Lord placed men in the leading roles with women in the background.

In this important text, the start of the Church, the proclamation of the Gospel

the Lord placed women in the leading role.

IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER

THE EMPTY TOMB, RESURRECTION

V:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

WE SERVE A LIVING JESUS

We serve a living, powerful, creative, resourceful, all knowing God.

Jesus rose from the dead as He said.

His resurrection open the door for our salvation. His last Words on the

cross was It Is Finished.

The Work the Lord came down from heaven to do was completed in His death.

He sacrificed Himself for the sins of the whole world.

Several things happen when Jesus died in the flesh.

1. He released His spirit to the Father

2. The Veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom

The Veil was 60 ft high and 30 feet wide and 7 inches thick over laid with

gold.

3. There was an earthquake in Jerusalem that marked the end of the law

4. Dead saints rose and walked the streets of Jerusalem.

5. There was 3 hours of darkness from 12 to 3PM which reminds us of

what would happen if there was no Jesus.

JESUS HAS PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES READY TO SERVE YOU

The religious leaders hated Jesus and looked for ways to have Him killed.

Their efforts failed during His 3 ½ year ministry. During the feast of the Passover

They stirred up a mob and brought Jesus before Pilate on false charges which

resulted in His crucifixion.

Jesus did what the Chief Priest, Pharisees and teachers of the law feared, HE returned from the dead.

The Pharisees believed in the resurrection but not by a carpenters son.

The teachers of the Law had the scriptures that prophesied the Messiah’s resurrection. After Jesus death on the cross, the religious leaders went to Pilate and asked that a guards be posted at the tomb to prevent the body of Jesus from being stolen.

Two of Jesus’ secret disciples inside the religious court, Joseph of Arimathea

and Nicodemus prepared the body of Jesus for burial and placed Him

in new tomb owned by Joseph. They wrapped the body Jesus in a large sheet with 75 pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloe.

They remained secret because they considered their position more than Jesus.

(John 12:42). Look at the personal relationship they forfeited to stay friends with

the world.

You cannot have it both ways. It is Jesus only and not the world. They were trying to serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other.

YOU MUST CONCLUDE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD

After considering the three hours of darkness, the earthquake and the

blood and water flowing out of Jesus body separately, the Roman

Soldiers concluded that Jesus must be the Son Of God. You and I

must conclude that Jesus is the Son of God. When we study the Word

we must conclude it is Word of God. When we look the evidence of

God’s creation, we must conclude that Jesus is the Son Of God.

When you woke this morning, it was not your alarm clock. You must

conclude it was Jesus. When you think about where you have come

from, you must conclude it was Jesus.

Before Jesus died on the cross, He showed us the way to salvation.

The thief on the cross to the right of Jesus confessed his sin but

asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. From that very

moment the thief was saved in heaven. He by passed all the rituals

and went straight to Jesus.

The thief on the cross concluded the Jesus was the SON OF GOD

SEEK JESUS AND KNOW HIM FOR YOURSELF.

The Apostle John focused this part of the text the love Mary Magdalene had

for Jesus.

IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER

Early Sunday Morning, three women got together to go

worship the Lord. It was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and

Salome.

They brought gifts to anoint His body.

Their hearts burned to get to the body of Jesus and finish anointing

it for burial. On the way to the tomb, they discussed Jesus.

They went looking for someone they thought was dead but got the Good

News that HE was alive. They went to the tomb looking for a dead body

but Got the message from angels that He was alive. They went to do some work

for the dead, but got new work for the living.

The men were hiding out in fear. But the women had church early Sunday

morning. On the way to the tomb they discussed how they would get the

stone rolled away from the tomb. Friday evening they watch the body being

placed there and knew the stone was to large for them to move. They would

not get any help from the eleven disciples hiding out in fear.

God will give you the desires of your heart.

They knew the body had been wrapped and anointed. But they wanted perfection.

When you want the best for the Lord, He give you his best.

They went looking for someone they thought was dead but got the Good

News that HE was alive. God removed the stone, and posted angels inside

tomb with the message that Jesus was alive. The went to serve their Lord’s

dead body but got new work for the living.

They became the first missionaries for Jesus, It was the women who

brought the good news to the men. They followed the directions of Jesus. They

First got the directions from the angels to go tell the disciples.

Then they got the message from Jesus. Their sadness was turned into joy.

They were unlikely candidates for missionaries, because women had no

voice. Even the men disciple considered their words as idle tales. They knew

what they knew and were not disturbed by the disciples unbelief.

We cannot worry about what others think. They can’t get you into heaven.

IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER

Women were involved in the ministry of Jesus from the beginning. It was Eve that

started it all. She didn’t fully understand the scripture, but she spoke what she

knew. It was a woman that the Lord decided to be born into the world. It was

women, Mary and Elizabeth that worshiped the Lord Jesus first. It was the women

who prepared dinner for the weary traveler.

Sometimes God allows your troubles to draw you to Him. Mary Magdalene was

troubled with 7 demons. Can you imagine the mental turmoil she experienced

before her encounter with Jesus. She showed her gratitude with constant service

and worship. She witness the death of Jesus, but she didn’t let her grief stop

her worship. Because she endured her grief she was the first to be rewarded with the

the joy of His resurrection.

When the women got to the tomb and were reminded by the Angels that Jesus said

He would rise on the third day, they remembered His Words.

RUN TO JESUS

It was the women who set aside their fears and bravely went to the tomb early

Sunday morning and return with good news of the resurrection.

When Peter and John heard the word that Jesus was resurrected, they ran to

see for themselves. The problem with most of us, is we are in no rush to get

to Jesus. We should be in rush to get to Jesus with our praise and worship.

We should be in a rush to get to Jesus with our prayers. We should be in a

rush to worship Jesus. We should be in a rush to get to Jesus with our graditute.

They had some doubts about the resurrections. But their desire to see Jesus

overrode their doubts. Their desire to see Jesus overrode their fears. Their

desire to see Jesus got them moving out of the house.

When they got to the tomb they did not see Jesus. They saw the evidence

that Jesus had risen. They saw the wrapping deflated like a balloon. They

saw the face cloth folded in another place. Even with evidence they marveled

but did not believe. Jesus can’t deal with your unbelief. He left Peter and John

in their sad fearful state.

Apparently, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb saw and the two angel in the tomb. Peter and John did not see the angels. The text says Peter was amazed, but John saw and believed. Believed what? Peter and John left and went back into hiding.

DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD

Mary Magdalene, not satisfied with the Angels message, returned back to

the tomb looking for the body of Jesus (Verse 10). She stood outside the tomb crying. The angels asked why, she turned around and bump into Jesus but did not

recognize Him. Mary empowered by her desire said I will go get Him if you tell me where He is.

You don’t have to go get Jesus, He where you are when you focus on Him.

Anytime you focus on Jesus, He has a message of love for you.

Mary teaches us a valuable lesson. Meditation on the Word is the key to involving

God in you understanding. Meditation activates the work of the Holy Spirit in your

life. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to teach all things that Jesus said.

You will get an understanding based on your needs.

Jesus reveled Himself to Mary by calling her name. She was with Him doing His

teaching and knew His voice. My parents went home with the Lord long ago, but

I can still remember the sound of their voices.

The Lord knows your name. When you been with Him long enough you will

know His voice.

Mary knowing it was Jesus wanted to hold on to Him. You hold on to Jesus by

telling others about Him. You are on a mission for Jesus. Mary Magdalene

went with a second message to the disciple that she had seen Jesus in His

resurrected state.

IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER

UNBELIEF BRINGS SADNESS, BELIEF BRINGS JOY

Verse 19. On Sunday evening, having seen the evidence of the resurrection and

having heard the news from the women of His resurrection, the disciples

were still locked behind closed door in fear for their lives. It should have been a day of joy but it was a day of sadness because of their unbelief.

Jesus showed up to meet with His disciples and the door was locked.

Jesus chose you, He will protect, so His mission will be carried out.

Jesus can open closed doors. In this case Jesus walked through a closed door.

This is an indication of the change in relationship. He was still friend, but a

resurrected friend. Jesus is not bounded by your surroundings. In fact the world can’t contain Him.

Jesus stood before them to bring them peace. When we understand the present of Jesus

we ought to be at peace. There is nothing He can’t handle for you. He is bigger than

your world. To enjoy Jesus peace, you have believe that He is alive in your world.

Regardless of what you are going through, you must believe that Jesus is concern

about your well being.

LOVE JESUS IN YOUR OWN WAY

The women were the first to put their faith in action. They showed their love

by the service they rendered to Him. Under the threat of death by the Roman

government and the Jewish religious leaders, they put Jesus before themselves.

The men went to see an empty tomb. The women went to see Jesus.

There are different ways we expressing our love for one another.

Mary Magdalene love was deeper more heart felt, more spiritual

It Lingered in her heart longer and continuously.

Peter and John’ love was more of what I do for you. Harder, outward, quick to see, in your face

Peter and John’s competition is an example;

Who can get the tomb the fastest. How much of the load

I can handle.

A child needs to see both for balance . The mother embraces more. The father

show how to handle the hard stuff of life. One is tender love, the other is tough

love.

Peter and John, once they saw the evidence in the empty tomb, went home and gain nothing more.

Mary Magdalene lingered longer, not satisfied with not seeing the body, but

wanted to touch it, feel it, handle it for her consolation. As a result was the first to

see Jesus and touch Him in His Resurrected State.

Because she lingered in the Word longer, she was given a message of encouragement

to the men. Just hold on brothers, Jesus will see you soon. He is alive, I have seen

His glory.

We all make mistakes. But Jesus comes a long side us to let us know our mistakes

were designed to make us stronger and prepare us for the heavy mission designed

for us.

Peter strong minded and in your face attitude need to experience the sin of his pride to

be humbled for the preaching work Christ stored up for him.

SISTER, IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER

BROTHERS, IF YOU CAN SEE PETER AND JOHN YOU CAN BE THEM

CHURCH, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE JESUS, YOU CAN BE LIKE HIM

HAPPY EASTER