Easter Sunday 2022: No Greater Love

April 17th, 2022/Casey

The Gospel is Good News! It is the story of ultimate sacrifice, unconditional love, and unimaginable freedom!

We gather today not in respect to a religious ceremony, but as a people that have been radically transformed by the love of God and the power of the resurrection.

The God of the universe wants to have a personal and intimate relationship with you! This relationship is made possible through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are not too far from God’s love, His love is near this morning. I believe He is drawing you in, reaching out in grace and hope, saying today is the day of salvation.

I don’t believe you are here by accident. You are not an accident. I believe in the power of moments. Birthday celebrations, weddings, anniversaries, your first child being born, the day you discovered cold brew for the first time. :)

The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you discovered why. My hope and prayer is that today is a moment for you. If you are a follower of Jesus in the house today then I hope you are reminded of Christ's love for you and that you are drawn back to the cross. If you are considering faith, then my hope is that you see clearly the Good News of the Gospel and that you put your faith in Jesus.

“Until you rest in the finality of the cross, you will never experience the reality of the resurrection.” - Bob George

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. - John 3:16-17 CSB

God sent His one and only Son into the world on a rescue mission. God is love and it was in LOVE that He gave that which was most precious to Him for the sake of all humanity. Jesus came to this earth, fully man and fully God. Sent to serve and give His life as a ransom. He came not to condemn, but to save. He lived a perfect and sinless life, then the hour came for Him to take on the sins of the world.

Mocked & Beaten by the Soldiers

Passage: Matthew 27:11-26 CSB

Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the King of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus answered, “You say so.” 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.

13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.

The night before, Jesus was arrested by the high priest, soldiers, and one of his own disciples that betrayed him. They took him before the Sanhedrin and they mocked him, spit in his face, and physically abused Him. The whole assembly was in an uproar as they made countless false accusations about Jesus, but Jesus kept silent.

At one point in the night they blindfolded Jesus and repeatedly punched him in the face asking “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you!” Their hatred and anger towards Jesus was out of control! Their hunger for status, money, and power led them to fear the Kingdom Jesus spoke of and caused them to do unthinkable acts of violence and hatred. The following morning the chief priests and elders conspired to put Jesus to death and they brought him before Pilate.

Pontius Pilate was the governor over the people. In the Sanhedrin, the chief priest, elders, and scribes were accusing Jesus of blasphemy. That He was claiming to be God. But these weren’t the accusations they brought before Pilate. They knew that blasphemy would not result in the death penalty, only charges against Rome would do that. So they claimed 3 specific lies about Jesus. 1. That he was convincing people to not pay taxes. 2. That he was inciting riots. 3. That he claimed to be king. They were willing to stop at nothing to see Jesus crucified that day!

In His silence He was fulfilling prophecy

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

Rejected by the Crowds

20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!”

It was customary for the governor to release a prisoner that was on death row. This was a show or an act of mercy on behalf of the governor. Who is Barabbas? Barabbas was a robber, murderer, and insurrectionist. He was a well known thug. Jesus was being accused of the very kind of crime Barabbas had committed: stirring up the people against Rome.

Barabbas is a title, not a name. Barabbas is made up of two Aramaic words: Bar, which means “Son of” & Abba, which means “the father”. This name means “Son of the father”. If you look at your footnotes, it will show that some manuscripts give his name as Jesus… Jesus Barabbas. He is a picture of the depravity of humanity.

So here we have Jesus (Son of an earthly father) and Jesus (Son of God), which will you choose? The crowds shouted “Give us Barabbas!” and when asked about Jesus they shouted “Crucify Him!”

I’ll ask again, Who is Barabbas? I am Barabbas. You are Barabbas. Jesus taking our place, the substitutionary atonement. It looked like it was the people that set Barabbas free, but it was LOVE. The love of the Father. It was God saying “I love you this much!” Barabbas? A robber, murderer, and thug goes free while the perfect Son of God endures suffering and the cross? As I think of this story I can hear God say “I love Barabbas.” But Jesus, he’s a bad man… “I love Barabbas this much.”

“but God shows his LOVE for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬

Jesus didn’t just die for you, He died instead of you.

Story: The Their and A King

“Once upon a time there was a story of an ancient king. Who was the fairest and most loving king that the world had ever known. And it began to be discovered that someone was stealing from the king's treasury. And so the king issued a decree. That whenever the person was found that was stealing from his treasury, that that person would receive 10 lashes. But the thievery kept happening. And so he upped the decree to 20 lashes, but it kept happening. And then he upped the decree to 40 lashes. An effective death sentence. And two days after his decree for 40 lashes and death, it was discovered that the king’s own daughter was the one who had been stealing from his treasury. And so a question arose in the land, “how in the world could the most loving king in the world kill his own daughter. Some people in the kingdom thought that the king would pardon her because he was so loving. But then they said “yeah but how would he be fair”. And some people thought that he would kill his own daughter but they said “yeah but then how would he be loving.” Well the king pondered it and it was decided that the law was clear, he had made his decree and that the person that had stolen from him deserved death. And so two days later the king's own daughter was brought out as a public spectacle in front of the whole kingdom. And she was laid over the place where she’d be executed. And her shirt was ripped open so that her back would be exposed. And just as the executioner raised his whip the king from the back of the crowd yelled “STOP!”. And the king slowly walked the middle aisle between all the people and he tore off his own shirt and he wrapped his own body around the body of his daughter and looked back up over his shoulder to the executioner and said “Now, hit her.” The executioner objected, “but I can’t hit her without hitting you.” and he said “The law is clear, the punishment must fall, do what must be done.” And so the king held on to his daughter, shielding her from every lash and he died upon the stump.”

Jesus didn’t just die for you, He died instead of you.

“But he was pierced because of our rebellion,

crushed because of our iniquities;

punishment for our peace was on him,

and we are healed by his wounds.” - Isaiah 53:5 CSB

Condemned by Pilate

26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

The brutal beating. The shame and humiliation. The rejection from both His closest friends and an entire city. Lashes with the cat of nine tails. The mocking and slander. The crown of thorns placed on His head. Just to be hung on a cross as a criminal… Good Friday.

The perfect Lamb. The spotless One. The miracle worker and healer. He came to serve and give His life as a ransom. Just one week ago the crowds shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Now they shout “CRUCIFY HIM! Give us Barabbas!”

Hanging on a tree. Excruciating pain and unable to breathe. Offering forgiveness and love even in His final minutes. In His final breath He cries out “Tetelestai!” It is finished! The work is complete! No more sacrifices, no more temples. The fulfillment of prophecies of old, fulfilled in the ultimate act of LOVE. Good Friday.

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” - John 15:13 NLT

___________________________But then…_______________________________

Passage: Matthew 28:1-7

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

Our Provision Is Jesus

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6

When Jesus said “It is finished” on the cross, it means the work was completed. Some hear in that word the sound of a debt being paid. And our penalty was paid in full on the cross! 3 days later Jesus rose from the grave. Defeating sin, death, and the enemy for all eternity.

There’s an empty grave for that… Guilt, shame, fear, sin, death, unforgiveness, bitterness, loneliness, doubt, anxiety, depression, addiction, broken marriage, broken relationships, pride, envy… there’s an empty grave for that!

The resurrection gives us a… hope for heaven, freedom in Christ, a mission to live for, purpose in every circumstance, an example to follow, joy in our trials, comfort in our pain, strength in our weakness, a foundation on which to build our lives, power to overcome the enemy, a friend that sticks closer than a brother, and so much more! Aren’t you glad today that He is not dead, but He is alive and victorious today!

The Gospel is Good News! It is the story of ultimate sacrifice, unconditional love, and unimaginable freedom!

Closing: God loves you so much! And He desires a relationship with you. Will you go to God?

If you feel in chains, He’s a chain breaker

If you feel sick, He’s the great physician

If you feel addicted, He’s freedom and abundant life

If you feel lost, He’s a way maker

If you feel anxious, He’s the peace that transcends all understanding

If you feel condemned, He’s the grace giver

If you feel hopeless, He’s your living hope

Invitation: Beginning your relationship with Jesus is as easy as ABC!

1. A - Admit you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness. There is nothing you can do to pay the penalty of sin or earn your salvation (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is death, and only God’s righteous and sinless Son could pay that penalty. So, there is no other solution to your dilemma other than coming to Jesus Christ in repentance, receiving His free gift of salvation, and accepting Him as your Savior and Lord.

   1. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
   2. B - Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead. Just believing in something doesn’t make it true, no matter how sincere you are. Nor is it the intensity of belief that makes something true. It is who and what you believe in that really matters. To “believe in” is more than merely acknowledging the reality of Jesus Christ; it means “to trust in and rely on” –– a belief that results in committing your life to Him.

   3. C - Confess with your mouth that Jesus died and rose again. Tell others that you have accepted Him as your Savior and Lord.

   4. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:9, 10)

Prayer of Salvation:

“Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free”