There are many great things in Easter but at the essence of Easter is a beautifully encapsulated truth: Jesus offers us an invitation to His life, a life where the impossible becomes possible. Drew painted a vivid picture of the empty graves, each with its unique story, yet unified by the power that raised Jesus from the dead – a power that created the universe itself.
At the heart of Drew’s message was the resounding truth that in Jesus alone, there is hope. It’s a hope that transcends the confines of human understanding, a hope that defies the darkest of circumstances. This hope finds its foundation in the resurrection – the ultimate victory over sin, death, and despair.
The sermon highlighted that this hope is not merely a distant concept but a tangible reality, grounded in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s a hope that beckons us to trust in the power of his resurrection, to believe that even in the face of impossibility, God can bring forth new life.
Reflecting on Easter, Drew acknowledged the paradox of Good Friday – a day that should not have been good, yet became the pivotal moment in history. The cross, once a symbol of death and despair, now signifies redemption and freedom. On that cross, Jesus bore not only Drew’s sins but the sins of all humanity, offering a pathway to new life.
The sermon drew parallels with the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus. One mocked him, questioning his divinity, while the other recognized his own guilt and Jesus’ innocence. In that acknowledgment, he found salvation. Similarly, Drew emphasized that we are faced with a simple choice – to accept or reject what Jesus offers. The thief who accepted found himself promised a place in the Kingdom of Heaven, a testament to the power of belief.
At its core, Drew’s sermon echoed the timeless message of Easter: an invitation to embrace the transformative power of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It’s an invitation to believe in the impossible, to find redemption in the midst of brokenness, and to experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers.
As we reflect on Drew’s words, may we, like the thief on the cross, choose to accept what Jesus offers – not just forgiveness, but a new life filled with purpose, hope, and joy. And in accepting, may we, like Zoe, encounter Jesus in his entirety and boldly proclaim his truth to the world, knowing that through him, all things are possible. In Jesus alone, we find our hope, our redemption, and our eternal life.
