Easter with Valorous Church

Notes

Jesus is alive! On Easter, we celebrate the resurrection and the hope it offers. We celebrate that it’s not who we are or anything we can do that saves us, but who Jesus is and the work He did on the cross that gives us our salvation.

One of Jesus’ disciples wanted to rise up, to feel joy and peace, but he became weighed down, afraid, and doubtful. Let’s read about him in this story that takes place after Jesus’ last earthly supper:

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
“No!” Peter declared emphatically. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the others vowed the same.

Of course, Jesus was right, and later on Peter did deny Jesus. He let the wrong stuff get on the inside. Pride entered his heart and he ended up in a place where he felt empty. Can you imagine the regret and shame he would have felt after this happened?

Some of us feel like Peter. We started out wanting to rise up but ended up slipping and falling. Sin will lie and say God doesn’t want you because of something you have done; it will tell you God doesn’t save people who are weighed down with anger, guilt, or bitterness. But Easter is about God breathing life into hopeless situations. With Him, we can get the wrong stuff out of our lives and replace it with the right stuff.

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.
Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

Jesus still wanted Peter. When Jesus took His last breath on the cross, it was so that people like Peter could take their first breath of new, transformed life. Jesus will forgive, no matter what; His grace is sufficient, no matter what.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

You can trade in your guilt, shame, regret, and pride for a new life in Christ. Jesus died to save us from our sins, and His resurrection proves His power even over death. He won the battle for us. Leave the wrong stuff at the cross, and come to Jesus in faith. Turn away from the heaviness and oppression of sin, and let Jesus transform you into a new creation.

Group Questions

• How do you think Peter felt after he had denied Jesus? Have you ever been in a situation that made you feel that way?
• How does knowing that Jesus offers forgiveness and new life give us hope in moments of guilt and shame?
• If you are a follower of Jesus, how have you experienced His transformation in your life?
• If you aren’t sure yet what you believe, what steps can you take to let go of burdens and find hope and purpose?

Prayer

Thank you for the hope we have in the resurrection and for your forgiveness and grace. Help us to let go of the things that weigh us down. Fill us with your Spirit so that we can live boldly for you and share the good news of your love and redemption with others.