Easter: Guaranteed Good News Series

Good morning to you and Happy Resurrection Day to you all! Easter is special day and we are so glad to have you join us.

Most Sundays I am looking at nothing but a camera these days. But not this Sunday (show pics of people’s printed pics on the pews)! What a welcome sight.

Many of you are new to our church and me. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Pastor Scott and you’re tuning into Cross Church/North Richland Hills Baptist Church Easter Celebration. Thank you for joining us.

So many of us need hope right now. Many of you have lost jobs, you have been furloughed, and some of you maybe literally struggling for their very breath or have loved ones struggling for their very breath. We need hope and God’s help. I have guaranteed good news for you: Jesus rose from the dead and you will rise from the dead if you follow Jesus Christ. The resurrection tells us there is eternal, bedrock hope. The resurrection of Jesus is a reminder that there is a day coming in our future when we will hug one another, laugh together, and eat together in the presence of the One who died for us.

If you have a Bible, I want to invite you to turn to Luke 23 with me (Bible app). Again, we are so glad you’re here with us joining us from your living room, kitchen, or even your bedroom. At the conclusion of this message, I am going to invite many of you to embrace Christ for your hope in this life and the life to come. I will want you to type one letter in just a few minutes as a response to today’s message.

Three Dying Men

Let me set the scene for what you and I are about to read. Had you gone to the ancient city of Jerusalem when Jesus was crucified so long ago, and had you gone just outside the wall to the north, there you would have seen a rocky outcropping. And on that outcropping, you would have seen three crosses, with three men on those crosses. These three men stood like some kind of scarecrows erected up against the sky. You would have seen on that first cross to the left, a thief. On the other cross to your right, another thief. On that middle cross would have been the very Son of God. It’s on that middle cross that we have both God’s help and our hope.

Today, Jesus has one more of His “amen” statement. In the midst of His last breaths, Jesus shares one more “amen” statement to the dying man next to Him. Let’s pick up reading in Luke 23:32.

Today’s Scripture

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things” (Luke 23:32-49).