Lake Community Church, Alexandria MN

HE HAS RISEN!  Can you imagine being there for the moment when the news broke?  The women returned from Jesus' grave to report the most amazing news to the disciples.  Jesus Christ is no longer in the grave, He is alive.  What incredible news!  This day must have been the best day of their lives.  However, remember fresh on their minds would have been the worst day of their lives when they experienced the horrific news that Jesus would be crucified on the Cross.

Imagine hearing the bad news that Jesus was crucified and then the good news that Jesus has risen so quickly after.  The extreme change in news in a short period of time made the fact the Jesus is risen that much more powerful.  The cross is truly bad news.  The cross shows us the true consequences of our sin, displayed on the cross.  The Resurrection shows us the amazing gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus.

Forgiveness.  Forgiveness has never been more graphically communicated than what we see on the Cross.  Jesus stopped at nothing to make sure that we could experience the forgiveness that God is offering through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  After being nailed to the cross, Jesus prays to the Father and says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Forgiveness is powerful.  For those that have been forgiven a great debt, the weight and pressure are instantly lifted.  Sometimes we carry unforgiveness around like great boulders in our backpack. 

On Good Friday, we are going to remember what Christ did on the Cross and recall what it is like to be forgiven.  The message of the Cross is that no matter how far you have roamed, you have NOT gone too far to where God won’t offer forgiveness.  He wants to forgive you!