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Hey All,

With this being Holy week, I feel it is necessary for us to take a break from the Ten (10) commandments and look at one topic. Jesus’ Crucifixion. Months ago in one of PJ’s sermon series he invited us to start reading the book of John in chapter 13. Our community group has worked its way through this book and without coincidence we are on John chapter 19 this week. Although we will not meet this week, it is important that we study this chapter so let’s read John 19:1-30 to look at the crucifixion a little closer. Reading this text, it is really a more condensed version of the crucifixion. Some of the other gospels go into far greater detail but what it reminded me of a game the kids used to play when we were in the car going places…..Would you rather……Dad would you rather be a shark in the ocean or a guppy in a fish bowl? Dad would you rather walk 10 miles in the desert or 10 miles in Antarctica? Dad would you rather walk upside down in space or right side up on earth? This game would go on for as long as the whimsical driver could take it. By now you are wondering what does all this have to do with Holy week?

PJ spoke several weeks ago about the sacrifice that God made sending his Son to the earth to die for our sins and then he asked the parents in worship that day…..Would you give up your son our daughter to save the remaining congregation? Chris spoke last Sunday on “Community” and the “Unity of Community” that was separated from God by Adam and Eve’s sin before Jesus gave his life for us to be “Reunited” through the cross. What struck me this week is that we seldom focus on the really bad place we avoided: Hell. Luke gives us a glimpse in Luke 16:23-24 In Hades he (the rich man) lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame. The rich man was in agony and being tormented but also being consumed by flame or fire in Hell. A similar description is in Matthew 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Finally in Revelation 14:10-11 it says: …..and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night…. Now let’s focus! The only way we have salvation is through Jesus’ death! He was separated from God on the cross when he cried out Matthew 27:46….MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? After which He endured the agony, which we just read about, concerning the flames of Hell to rise victorious on Easter morning.

So back to Would You Rather…..

When I really thought about PJ’s question would you rather give up your child to save the world as God did for you? I have to be honest, I would have to say NO! I cannot fathom the LOVE that God has for us to give his Son Jesus that we might not spend eternity separated from HIM in agony and flames.

Would you rather spend and eternity in pain and suffering than to accept the free gift of Salvation through the Holy Spirit providing God’s grace to you? You see I don’t think we think about the HELL or talk about HELL enough! Just as the rich man did in Matthew, he had all he wanted while he lived on earth and focused not on the eternal consequences of is choices. HELL IS REAL! We cannot get to heaven without acknowledging it and accepting Christ as our savior.

So to wrap up

So many times we want to just focus on the greatness of the resurrection of Easter Sunday. It is Great, Awesome and Beautiful but we cannot get there without acknowledging the SIN, SUFFERING and SACRIFICE that took place prior on the cross.

Father I know our lives are a mess! I cannot fathom the LOVE that you have for us to sacrifice your Son. I thank you that you have spared us the agony of what we know HELL to be and that you have prepared a place for each of us if we will only do as is says in Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!  I would rather believe in you then spend an eternity separated from you, in Jesus name Amen? AMEN!

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