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MH370

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Hope

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Hope lost

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Hope?

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Hope?

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Hope

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EASTER: Hope Lost and Found

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Putting Easter in context

His Life and Message

His Suffering and Death

His Resurrection and Ascension

His Return and Reign

Jesus – the centre of history

Easter

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Jesus – the center of history

His Life and Message No one understood

or believed Jesus.

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His Life and Message

His Suffering and Death

Jesus – the center of history

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From noon until three in the afternoon

darkness came over all the land.Matthew 27.31, 45

Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death,

even DEATH on a cross.Philippians 2.8-10

They led Jesus away to crucify him.

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Hope lost

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Hope lost

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Hope lost

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Hope lost

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Hope lost

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About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?".

When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. Matthew 27.45-50

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The temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom.

The earth shook and the rocks were split apart.Matthew 27.51

At that very moment…

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Jesus… destroyed him who holds the power of DEATH – that is, the devil – and freed those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of DEATH. Heb 2.14

At that very same moment…

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Jesus’ body was wrapped in linen and laid in a tomb.

And everyone went home.

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No one was ready for what happened next –

early on the morning of the first day of the week.

No one.

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No one expected Jesus

to come back from the dead.

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No one expected Jesus

to come back from the dead.

No one expected Jesus

to come back from the dead.

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Disciples despaired.

God waited.

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Total darkness.

Dead silence.

God made His move.

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Jesus – the centre of history

His Life and Message

His Suffering and Death

His Resurrection and Ascension

No curtain tearing.No earth shaking.No rock splitting.

Silence.

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What now?

Perfect strategy

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Get here early!!See HIM this week!! Miracle Revival RallyJerusalem Stadium

Jesus ALIVE from the DEAD!!

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Did Jesus miss a great opportunity?

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Jesus Perfect Personal Strategy

He reveals Himself one-by-one…

• To Mary – the Devoted one

• To Cleopas – the Dejected one

• To Peter – the Decisive one

• To Thomas – the Doubtful one• To John – the Detached one

Which one do YOU identify with?

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Now very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance.

Mary Magdalene – the Devoted One

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So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

Later… Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet.

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They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary replied, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

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Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”

Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means Teacher).

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Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.

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Cleopas & friend – the Dejected Ones

Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened.

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While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him).

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Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad.

Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?”

He said to them, “What things?”

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“The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied…“a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people; and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

But WE HAD HOPED that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.

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Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened.

Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.

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Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”

So Jesus said to them, “You foolish people – how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”Luke 24.13-26

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Peter – the Decisive One

Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now this is how he did so. Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael (from Cana), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his were together.

Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

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When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, “Children, you don’t have any fish, do you?”

They replied, “No.” He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.

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Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tucked in his outer garment (for he had nothing on underneath it), and plunged into the sea… for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.

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When the disciples got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire ready with a fish placed on it, and bread… “Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said.

But none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.

Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.*

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When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”

Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.”

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Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.”

…After he said this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.” John 21.1-22

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Thomas – the Doubtful One

On the evening of… the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.

Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

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Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!”

Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them.

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Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.”

Thomas replied to him, “My Lord and my God!”

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Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20.24-29

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John – the Detached OnePeter and the other disciple (John) set out to go to the tomb. The two were running together,

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and reached the tomb first. He bent down…

but the other disciple ran faster than Peter

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and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter… arrived and went right into the tomb… Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, came in, and he saw and believed. John 20.3-9

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[Later at the sea of Galilee]

Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus…

He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some [fish].”

So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.

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Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

So Simon Peter... plunged into the sea. Meanwhile the other disciples came with the boat…

[Later, when Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him]

Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them… So he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” John 21.1-21

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Jesus tailored his approach

• To Mary – the Devoted one

• To Cleopas – the Dejected one

• To Peter – the Decisive one

• To Thomas – the Doubtful one

• To John – the Detached one

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Who do YOU identify with?

• Devoted Mary (the “worried mother”)

• Dejected Cleopas the deserter

• Impulsive Peter

• Skeptical Thomas

• “Back in the shadows” John

If Jesus appeared to you after He was raised from the dead, what would he have said to you?

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Putting Easter in Context

His Life and Message

His Suffering and Death

His Resurrection and Ascension

His Return and Reign

Because He left his Kingdom in our hands.

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God left nothing that is not subject to [Jesus].

Yet at present we do not see everything

subject to Jesus.

But we see Jesus… now crowned with glory and honor.

Hebrews 2.8-9

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Putting Easter in Context

His Life and Message

His Suffering and Death

His Resurrection and Ascension

His Return and Reign

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1. To live only in the natural realm.

2. To live only for spiritual experiences.

3. To live with the tension between the natural and supernatural.

Three Choices

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God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2.8-10

Our Hope

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We kneel before you Father, from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named.

We pray that according to the wealth of Your glory You may grant us to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in our inner person,

that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith…

Closing Prayer – together

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… so that, because we have been rooted and grounded in love, we may be able to comprehend with all the saints

what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,

so that we may be filled up to all of Your fullness O God.

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Now to You who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to You be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.Eph 3.14-21