Bible Text: Matthew 27:45-66 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Abiding in Easter
How does Awful become Awesome?
God’s miracle RESURRECTION POWER transforms what is awful, terrible and tragic into what is awesome, powerful and triumphant.
Jesus Died A REAL PHYSICAL DEATH
Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Mark 15:37 …and breathed His last.
Luke 23:46 Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.
John 19:30 It is finished! And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Rabbi Hershel Schechter 70 years ago was the first Jewish chaplain to enter one of Germany’s infamous concentration camps
YOU ARE FREE!
Galatians 5:1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again…
John 8:32-37 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
The AWESOME fact is that Jesus is ALIVE!
Jesus is Easter and Easter is here EVERYDAY!
The AWFUL fact is that Easter died a real physical death
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Luke 9:22 …The Son of Man must suffer many things…and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Mark 8:31 …and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Matthew 16:21 …and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Jesus ROSE from the dead and that is SCARY truth!
Men were afraid of His death but they should have been more concerned about His LIFE!
The AWESOME fact is that there are now possibilities of a NEW beginnings, NEW hearts, and NEW freedom
Romans 6:5-9 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.
Revelation 21:5 Behold I make ALL things NEW.
God doesn’t make all things NEW by changing the outside instead He TRANSFORMS the inside!
For our God is not just a fixer, repairer; He is our Creator!
We are not REMODELED we are RECREATED WE ARE MADE NEW!
My son explain to me that he placed them there as a reminder of being free from the hurt the fear we felt…
The AWFUL fact is that we must ALL DIE in order to have NEW LIFE!
 
Hebrews 9:27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment…
God Knows!
My God My God, why have you forsaken me? Then Jesus gave up His spirit, Father into Your hands I give up my spirit and He died.  
Our God understands what we are going through ALL the time!
The AWESOME fact is that Jesus died and rose for you!
Matthew 28:5-6 But the angel answered and said to the women, do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen…
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is Awesome!
We are NEW in Jesus
 
Ezekiel 18:31-32 Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!
Ezekiel 36:26-27 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.