QC Journey To The Cross Tony Dixon

John 20: 6-7
Eric Brei, DCE

Nothing. Bare. Completely empty besides the bindings that once wrapped His lifeless body. Where is He? What happened? Did someone steal His body?
What happens when we expect things to go a certain way and then everything is completely different than we thought it would be? What happens when the hopelessness that we have felt and are expecting to feel is replaced by questions and the slightest glimmers of hope? What happens when our world, destroyed and left in ashes, begins to re-form? This is the scary uncertain beginning of resurrection.

Mark 16:1-3
Eric Brei, DCE

In the book of Mark, Scripture tells us that as the women walked to the tomb early on Sunday morning they asked each other who would remove the stone over the tomb for them. They were concerned as they wanted to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial. There was a barrier between them and what or who in this case was inside the tomb.
We have barriers between us and Jesus as well. We each have stones that prevent us from getting close to Jesus. For many of us, it’s something that WE do. Things like addictions, apathy, fear, or pride. For some of us, the barriers that stand between us and Jesus were not put there by us. It could be any number of things that we did not choose for ourselves. But we need to remember that there is nothing we can do by ourselves to remove them. It is beyond our power to roll the stones away. We need Jesus!
Think for a moment to the women heading to the tomb. Although they didn’t know how they would remove the stone or barrier, they went to the tomb anyway. They were seeking and trusting that Jesus would provide a way. We must do the same. We cannot begin to imagine how God works, but we know that when we seek Him first and trust in His great power, stones and barriers go away.

Matthew 27:58-60
Eric Brei, DCE

In the ancient world, people used tombs to place the dead. They were a holding place for things that no longer had life. Thus Jesus was placed in a tomb. He was counted as a loss. Many believed He had no possibility of life again.
Are there things in your life that you have placed in a tomb? Things you have counted as a loss or are dead to you? A relationship? A hope or dream that was squashed or squandered. Maybe it is just how you think about your own life? Some of us have set our lives on auto pilot just waiting for this all to end and be over. For some things in our lives, it is ok to count them as dead or lost. But for other things, even though they may be dead, God may have other plans. Plans that may involve rolling away the stone and seeing an empty tomb. So ask yourself today, what part of your life needs resurrecting? Are you willing to turn these things over to God so that He can bring it back to life in you?

John 19:31-37 & Matthew 27:55-56
Tony Dixon, DCE

What do we all look for in a friend? Even though we don’t always think about it, Jesus is the best friend anyone could ask for! Jesus kept His promise through the fulfilment of prophecy for all who believe. He did not fight for his physical life on earth but rather gave up his spirit willingly because of His great love for us. Through his earthly ministry, Christ built relationship with those around Him because He cared for them and He cares for each of us too!

Mark 15:38-39
Tony Dixon, DCE

We are always under pressure to perform, but what happens when we don’t do things as well as we are supposed to? The Israelites were faced with being righteous only through clean living and sacrificial atonement! Thankfully, we can confidently say that through Christ’s death, we are no longer separated from the holiness of God, but rather united with our righteous Father.

John 19:28-30
Tony Dixon, DCE

What did Christ mean when he made the statement, “I thirst.”? We can assume that he was physically thirsty, but was there more meaning to these two words? Rather than being given clean and pure water, Christ was given sour wine to drink. Sin can sometimes taste like that sour wine which Christ drank, but thankfully it is through his sacrifice that we are offered pure living water. Because of His sacrifice, IT IS FINISHED!