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Resources and Notes for this Sunday's Message

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How He Loves Me! – Interim Pastor Phil Thomas – Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

John 3:16 ESV

 

Easter would not exist without this love.

 

Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. 

Matthew 27:15-18

 

Barabbas means son of the father.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

Matthew 27:19

 

If you open your heart to Him, you will see Him.

 

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. 

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. 

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

Matthew 27:20-23

 

The crowd was persuaded to ask for the rebel.

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 

All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Matthew 27:24-26

 

The same love that set Barabbas free, held Jesus on the cross!

 

We are Barabbas; Jesus took our place.


But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 

Romans 5:8 CEB

 

God loves us first and unconditionally!

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 3:17

 

Jesus came to give us life and true freedom.

 

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:3-6

 

Christ died, was buried, and raised on the third day.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” 

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

John 20:13-16

What are you searching for?

 

Where have you been looking?

 

Have you found it?

 

Why are you looking for the living among the dead?

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” 

Mark 16:6 ESV

 

He has risen, He is not here, come see the place where they laid Him.

 

He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. 

Luke 24:6-7 ESV

 

He is not here, He has risen, remember what He told you.

 

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 

Matthew 28:6 NASB

 

He is not here, He has risen, just as He said.

 

All scripture is from the NIV translation unless noted otherwise.