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Luke 23:26-56

Good Friday

No Way are you nuts?

Easter is a great time to think more carefully about why Christ died on the cross for us, and why is it so important that he rose again on the third day. God, became a human, lived just like we do, ministered for 3 years, proclaiming the good news that he had come to save us. We then nailed him to the cross where we watched him slowly die.

I can’t imagine a more drastic, costly and horrifying plan than the Son of God being murdered to save the world. It screams to me that there is something fundamentally wrong with us and with me. Being crucified does not suggest that I needed some slight improvement in my character or lifestyle. No, it should stop me in my tracks and take my breath away. God died for me, I’m that bad, nothing less would do.

Jesus took my place on the cross, he paid my penalty so that I can walk free of judgement, all because he gave me the ability to believe/trust in him. So why has God gone to so much trouble and expense to save me? Surely so that I can be happy, healthy and wealthy, right, well no.

God’s interest is not in protecting me from being treated unfairly. His plan is to teach me to find his grace in the midst of unfairness. His plan is to teach me to care for people who are being unfair to me. His plan is to use me to overcome unfairness by teaching me to overcome evil with good. This means that I can expect to be treated unfairly so that I have opportunity to learn and grow from within my suffering. That is why Christ died and rose on the third day and that’s why I say “No way, are you nuts?” the Rev

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Revelation 7:9-17

Jesus drank your future

In the Garden Jesus agonised over the cup God wanted him to drink from. The cup was every believer’s future judgement; the punishment of every wrong was poured into the cup which Jesus drank. When you die and are brought to God for judgment you will be given a cup of wrath and punishment to drink. When you take the cup it will be empty, for Christ has drunk it for you. No longer do you need to fear death and punishment, eternal rejection from God and eternal loneliness. If you would like to glimpse your life in the future then listen to this message.  the Rev

Ask Jesus to drink your cup

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Luke 22:39-46

The Drink, The Ring and The cup

Pain, suffering, rejection, loneliness are normal experiences that we would rather avoid. They taste bitter when we drink them. Each drink reminds us of the final drink that we must take when we die. Bilbo planned to leave Frodo the ring of power so he gave away lots of presents to help him let go of the ring. When the time came he couldn’t leave the ring without Gandalf’s help. Jesus drank many bitter experiences in his life (a man of sorrow) but nothing could prepare him for the final cup. It was not the physical suffering that Christ wanted to avoid but the drinking of our final cup. If you would like to be encouraged to fear no more then you need to hear what was in the cup that Christ drank from. the Rev

Bilbo's greatest struggle

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Going cold turkey

Anyone that has struggled with an addiction knows how hard it is to resist temptation. They also know the sense of lose, dislocation and hollowness that comes with the removal of the addiction. After God rescued his people from slavery he led them into the wilderness where they were to wander for 40 years. This was going cold turkey. A time to learn to depend on God rather than themselves or their former slave masters. God still leads his people into the wilderness to expose their hearts and to train them to trust him rather than the things of this world. the Rev