Sunday, April 12
In 66 years I imagine I've heard 4 to 5 thousand sermons. The good, the bad, and yes, the ugly! One of my favorite sermons is one I actually never heard. It had been quoted by another speaker. The whole message was built around this one phrase: "It's Friday but Sunday is coming".
It was referencing the Friday that Christ was crucified and how it affected his followers. The sorrow at the loss of the one they loved, trusted, and pend their future hopes on. The discouragement that they, as in the words of Peter, had sacrificed all to follow Jesus, but now he was dead. The fear that they might be next to suffer punishment.
That Friday was a dark day, a day of immense cruelty, pain, and suffering. Filled with sorrow, anguish, and despair. A day in which the forces of evil seemed to prevail. But that was Friday and Sunday was coming.
On Sunday Jesus stepped out of that tomb and converted the disciple's greatest sorrow into their greatest joy. It transformed this group of cowering, disillusioned, and heartbroken people into the most potent force for good the world has ever known.
Here's the thing, we all have "Fridays" in our lives. Days with sorrow, discouragement, pain, and heartache. But there was one singular Sunday. The Sunday the Son of God, who had died on a cross to pay for our sins, defeated death and the perpetrator of evil. In doing so he provided us a source of hope and courage to sustain us in the darkest of "Fridays". One of the last promises Jesus made to us before he ascended to Heaven was "I am with you always, even to the end of the world."
Jesus is the light in the midst of darkness, hope in the throes of discouragement, and courage that overcomes fear. Put your life and your "Fridays" into his hands.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives
Pastor Steve
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