3 Days & Everything Changes
John 19:16-30 (NLT) So they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.
28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Can you imagine being a bystander at this event?
This man, well known in the region, had developed a following
he had groups of people that would follow everywhere he went… you knew some of them
You’ve heard stories of how how people would reach out and try to touch him… believing that if they could, they’d be healed of whatever ailed the
He claimed to be the son of God and many believed he indeed was… there was something in you that kinda believed it too
You have heard about the miracles he performed
Maybe you've even heard bits and pieces of his teaching
This man… Jesus of Nazareth… Joseph’s boy… clearly a man… but seemingly so much more
And now, you see him heading to be crucified… like a common criminal
crucifixion… the death penalty the Romans had perfected… saved for only the worst of criminals
You watch him as he carries his cross (something that all who were crucified would have done)
You saw as Simon helped carry his cross (according to Matt, Mark, and Luke)
You followed as they walked… and they get to the hill
then, it happens… they put him on that cross…
there’s no arguing
there’s no fighting
there’s no cursing
he even seems different here
but this is obviously no Son of God
the Son of God… one of the worst criminals? It makes no sense
the Son of God hung on a cross? The Messiah everyone had been waiting on… dying like a criminal… no, he was supposed to be a king. he was supposed to have people bowing to him, not hanging him
No King gets killed by his subordinates
No King gets crucified for being King
Maybe this wasn’t the Messiah after all
Maybe his miracles and teachings were just charisma with a title
You don’t know it then, but in
3 DAYS & EVERYTHING CHANGES
If you were there that day and willing to wait
If you were a witness that day and knew what was coming…
you’d know
3 DAYS & EVERYTHING CHANGES
Good Friday is only good because of what happens 3 days later
Easter Sunday makes Friday Good
Because...in...
3 DAYS & EVERYTHING CHANGE
in 3 days, the entire story is going to shift
in 3 days, the entire narrative will have a new conclusion
That self proclaimed messiah - the one who did the miracles and taught with power
The one that let them nail him to a cross
the one who died a criminal’s death
is going to raise from the dead…
You see, He still has one more miracle to perform
this time, it’s not a healing or water walking
this time, it’s not the blind or the sic
this time, it’s his own resurrection
You see, a lot can happen in a short time
old can become new
too late can become right on time
hopelessness can become hope
Death can become life
3 DAYS & EVERYTHING CHANGES
If you’re in a season of searching today
if you’re in a season of hopelessness today
if you’re in a season of worry today
keep waiting, with Jesus
