Ministering - Pastor Ajibola Opeoluwa-Caleb
TEXT - Mark 15: 22 - 41
22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
Introduction:
We think we know the story of the cross.
As believers & Christians today, we think we know the story to well. Easter Sunday is the glory!
But I can assure you that the story of Good (Black) Friday has not been fully told. The untold stories of the betrayal, conspiracy, denial, grieving, beating, sufferings, the stumbling, the pain of separations, the hopelessness of the inner caucus, the 3 hours of separation & 3 days in hell, the bleak & total confusion that followed his death…until Sunday morning came!!!
Sunday is here!
Your Sunday morning has come!
The messiah is alive!
He’s alive again, the stones be rolled away
He’s alive again, He’s no longer where he laid
He’s alive again, I can hear the Angel sings
Let the whole world rejoice, he’s alive
He’s no longer in the grave, the devils a regretting
No longer in the grave, my yokes are broken
No longer in the grave, I am free from oppressions
So I shout Halleluyah, He’s alive.
At the Easter Let’s go a fishing programme, we were speaking on Life beyond our fears…
FEAR
It is an unpleasant often strong emotions (feeling) caused by awareness of danger or its anticipation. Anytime you think you are in danger or trouble, you exhibit the emotions – fear.
Let’s try to identify the 4 personalities around Jesus and tell their stories of Good Friday…
Peter
We remembered Peter as the one who denied his master Jesus three times.
Following the betrayal by Judas (John 18)
There are mainly 2 emotions in trouble – Fight (self-defense) & flight (fear-withdrawal) and we do exhibit both most times unknowingly
John 18:10 - Peter drew a sword and sliced off Malchus ear.
Luke 22:51 – Jesus touched the servant’s ear and healed him.
Jesus last known miracle before the crucifixion
However in John 18:15-27 Peter denied Christ 3 times
Luke 22: 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Mary the mother of Jesus
John 19: 25 – 27 Jesus handed over his mother to John the beloved!
And John became adopted son of Jesus’ mother. Will it assuaged her pain?
What a day for Mary?
Pain & grieve of motherhood
For her it was inconsolable weeping, loss of appetite, total confusion.
Especially as she brought to remembrance – his conception, the encounter with the angels. How Jesus grew up; when he was twelve years old, his 1st miracle…
Luke 2:19 – But Mary was closely observing all these things, putting them together in her heart
For Mary, it was the story of hope dashed and questions – How can they kill the messiah? Is not just adding up… (it may not be adding up for you too, but your Sunday cometh…)
Thomas aka Didymus
Thomas was that disciple you don’t know how to place him but he was chosen for a purpose by Jesus. The one who seem to be saying the wrong things among the team. John 11: 16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. (someone you loved to hate). Maybe the one you dubbed – the weakest link
John14:5 “Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know d way?
As a matter of fact, Thomas could easily have been taunted as the betrayal by the other disciple…that was how bad he was!!!
All through the crucification, there were no account of Thomas but he was in the crowd; he witnessed how Jesus was killed! He saw how he gave up the ghost. For Thomas, it was a case of I knew so! The sayings of this Jesus was too good to be real. He watched as Jesus helplessly died on the cross. He saw it all. And probably just went away from the rest alone.
John 20: 24-25.. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Thomas had another 8 days of saying if he was alive, let me see him.
John 20: 26 – 29
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Until Thomas saw, he did not believe.
But you did not witness it, but you believed!!!
Jesus said, you are blessed!
May the blessings of resurrection morning be your portion.
Bible history concluded that Apostle Thomas was a powerful missionary to India and he was persecuted and died in India having been stabbed with a spear.
Conclusion:
The Video!
Sunday came for Peter, Mary, Thomas and the disciples – Sunday morning is here for you….
Shall we pray?
Prayer point 1: Lord Jesus, thank you! Thank you for enduring the cross for my sins. That you for the resurrection morning of hope and fulfillment of purpose.
Prayer point 2: My father, my father, my Sunday has come; hope is restored. My Sunday has come – joy is overflowing; my Sunday has come - I am reconnected to purpose.
Prayer point 3: Rom 8:11 – the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me.
Father Lord, through the resurrection power, quicken my mortal bodies etc.
Quicken my breakthrough…quicken everything that ought to live. Quicken my marriage…my ministry, my faith, my walk with God….
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