God has spoken to us through the life of His Son, Jesus Christ. The things that Jesus did for humanity reveal God’s heart and will for mankind. His ministry of healing reveals that God wants us healed. His ministry of deliverance reveals that He wants us free. His teaching reveals He wants us to know truth. His calling reveals His desire that we know purpose. This week concludes our series with Jesus, our hope. His giving hope to so many is a clear indication that He wants us to be filled with hope.
Luke 24:21 NLT - We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
Luke 24:30-32 NLT - 30 As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
Jesus demonstrated hope, even in the Easter story.
1. Gethsemane - There is hope for my STRESS.
Gethsemane represents the battle of the mind. Christ had to battle anxiety, stress, fear, loneliness, and betrayal during His time in the garden.
Some of the leading causes of stress:
Too many responsibilities, finances, work, divorce, our nation, politics
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV - 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jesus did three things to pass through the torment of His mind:
He prayed.
He stayed.
He surrendered.
2. Calvary - There is hope for my SIN.
The tree represents the battle of the soul. Sin started on a tree and it ended on a tree. Jesus battled with the shame of all the world’s sins piled on His shoulders. The Father turned from Him as He felt the sin of all the world on His shoulders.
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV - For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The gospels are full of characters who were sinful and carried deep shame, but to whom Christ gave hope.
Mary Magdalene, Zacchaeus, Matthew, woman caught in adultery, the woman at the well
If you need hope that there is life after sin and shame, look at Jesus and be filled with hope.
3. The grave - There is hope for my SORROW.
The tomb represents the battle of the natural world. Sickness, death, loss, and disappointment are all part of every person’s experience.
Ecclesiastes 9:4 NLT - There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”
Before Christ came, there was no hope in life after death. After Christ, we can all hope to live forever.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NLT - 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application:
If you are overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, Christ is your hope.
If you are overwhelmed with guilt, shame, and sin, Christ is your hope.
If you are overwhelmed with sorrow and defeat, Christ is your hope.
