Marc Krevo

If you knew the final moments of your life what words would you choose to say? The last words Jesus spoke was, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). Just prior to the death of Jesus on the cross he faced the choice, save himself or save the world. While his choice saves us, his choice forces everyone to make a decision. Whom will you choose?

In this message we conclude our sermon series: 7 Words from the Cross. In it we are faced with the decision to define our relationship with Jesus Christ. His decision was made and so now we are given that same choice.

When Jesus was on the cross before his death he said “it is finished.” He was saying that the work the father had given him was complete. But the good news is that the work he did on the cross for the father benefited us for all eternity! In this message we learn how the grace Jesus offers us from the cross allows us to enjoy a life free from the bondage of debt, a sin-debt.

When Jesus was crucified on the cross his last demonstration of his suffering was thirst. Jesus said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). The humanity of Jesus was being demonstrated because he was actually dying of thirst. Yet his plea was not just because he was physically thirsty. He was still thirsting for the souls of men!

The world’s desire to quench it’s thirst with fortune and fame are only able to  fill it with the things that are perishable. Jesus offers eternal life where men will never thirst “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). So while Jesus’ thirst was physical it symbolized something else he desired. In the face of suffering and evil, the world desires to satisfy it’s own thirst for earthly desires, but Jesus’ thirst desires too. He thirst for us.

Whether it’s a replacement part for your car, home appliance or item in your life, many of you will always look for something or someone to replace. Some of us even have parts in our body we want to replace too. The difference is that we have to give up something in order to replace it. When we replace something it is because we see the value of something else. We desire to replace love. We are driven to replace because of doubt, and we replace because we see the need that something else can provide in our life.

On the cross Jesus plea of why was answered with silence. Today the silence we think we don’t hear is answered with the substitution of God’s grace. In this message you will find 3 replacements for your life and hear how the love of Jesus Christ values you and your life greater than you may even see yourself.

Christ gave affection in his time of death, yet gave it to everyone for all time. Christ desires to comfort everyone, because his work on the cross gives comfort and eternal life. As we experience grief and suffering Christ has given us divine empathy to our problems––him.

Jesus prophesied that the disciples would desert him in fear, but their only solution would be to return to him. In a world today that offers tribulation Jesus offers peace. Only Christ can conquer the falsehood of a lying world and deliver true peace, if we accept his offer.

The way to peace is Jesus, and that beginning is found in salvation through Christ alone. “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (Psalm 62:1). Sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes he lets the storm rage, and calms his child.

Jesus tells us to “take heart” or “take courage.” This means that he is encouraging us not only to take what he is offering, but to know that he would not offer something if it didn’t have a guarantee. We have been given that guarantee when he said, “I have overcome the world” v.33. Jesus does not offer us false promises; he offers us the ultimate guarantee, himself.

Jesus said “behold the hour has come…” Perhaps today is your hour. Perhaps today in your heart of hearts God is speaking to you and says, “Take heart.” In other words, take courage. Go ahead take it, salvation that is. Take the free offer of salvation of peace and forgiveness and eternal relationship with God in Heaven. Let today be your hour to take what Christ freely offers you now.

Each of us experiences grief in some measure either through direct experiences or indirectly in the lives of others around us. It is easy to ask if God is truly God and truly good then personal tragedy betrays rational confidence in God. In times of grief we often ask more questions because we seek more answers, but the often that answer is only one.

Jesus was summoned to a despairing situation. However Jesus was more interested in letting the disciples know who he was and how their situation would change because of that. Today in a world of violence, suffering and pain we too must realize that Jesus is Lord, but that Jesus loves us more than we hurt.

For many of us facing difficult situations of despair and discouragement can be a part of our experience. When the disciples found themselves unable to cast the evil spirit out of a possessed boy they were confused and frustrated. However Jesus told them the only way to face their situation and doubt was through prayer.

Today everyone who has placed their faith in Christ should know that the power of God is available to overcome the most difficult situations in life. However, the source of all power is Jesus Christ and he wants us to come to him for everything in our life. In this sermon podcast we hear how that peace comes from knowing that only God can do the miraculous and from trusting Jesus Christ for all our needs in prayer.