The Christ Event

[[[The following sermon includes a video which is a simple line-drawing narrative of the Christ Event. The video is not original. It was purchased from www.sermonspice.com and is available (as of March 2013) at http://www.sermonspice.com/product/53535/easter-drawing.

The timings that are indicated below are there to assist in having a synchronized live reading of the written narrative. For a sample of how the audio fits the line drawing video see here: http://youtu.be/8MpZkrk-MZM

Again, the video is not mine, not original, and I simply added the gospel narrative, that you see below, as a way of further illustrating the Passion as part of an Easter Sermon.]]]

Here's the message:

How many here own or have owned an iPhone or an iPod or a Mac computer or and iWhatever? There’s a reason for that. There’s a story behind that. There’s a story behind everything.

In 1983 Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers met with John Sculley, then-president of Pepsi Cola. He asked him: "Do you want to sell sugared water for the rest of your life? Or do you want to come with me and change the world?" [Pause]

How many people here would either call themselves a Christian or a Christ-follower, or have had your life significantly impacted by a Christ-follower? There’s a story behind that. There’s a story behind everything.

In about 33 AD, Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Those were two transformative moments in history, although they were about completely different things.

One was to do with modern technology, which in part is about how life is lived in some ways differently now due to the advent of the computer, and in particular due to the advent of one particularly innovative computer company.

The other transformative moment in history was about the human heart, and particularly it was about One Man who was to offer a whole new way of living to every person who would become a follower of His.

His teachings and His life would culminate in one act, The Christ Event, His crucifixion and resurrection from the dead.

Now John Sculley responded with a ‘yes’, and that’s largely why we have the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad and the iWhatever.

Peter and Andrew and others also responded with a ‘yes’, and became part of a movement that, 2000 years later, impacts nearly every part the world on a daily basis.

Now Jesus was a teacher, teaching people how to live, how to love and how to be part of a movement - God’s movement designed to alter and improve for good the lives of everyone the movement touched.

Some, of course, throughout that history, who liked to wear the name of Jesus without following His teachings have at times seriously fowled the water within God’s movement. But it’s a movement that continues none the less.

Yonge Street Mission is part of that movement that Jesus started. Church at the Mission, this church, is part of that movement. I spoke with a dear brother freshly arrived in Toronto from Uganda this part Thursday, a pastor named William from Uganda, and He is here today because of the movement Jesus started.

[START VIDEO] And after 30 years of living, and after 3 years of public ministry Jesus, who said He came to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…

Jesus who taught us the Beatitudes, Who taught that He was God etc. found Himself in a room. An upper room of a house. And He was celebrating the Passover with His friends. [:29]

After the Passover meal, He picked up the bread and then the wine, gave thanks, and gave them to his disciples, saying, of the bread: “Take and eat; this is my body,” and of the cup He said , “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” [:47]

Later, in a garden, knowing all that was about to happen, Jesus prayed. His connection with God had always been intact, and now as His mission on earth was about to reach its climax, Jesus’ prayers were so intense He sweated, as it were, drops of blood. [1:02]

Shortly thereafter, Jesus was arrested and taken to the religious leaders who listened to what they knew were fabricated testimonies against Him. Wanting to kill Him because of the threat to their authority that He posed, and because he claimed to be the Son of God, they sent Him to the governor, Pilate.