Stop 9 Church
We want to share important pieces of our worship service with those who might not have been able to be there in person.
Stop 9 Church
Fixed on Victory: The Empty Tomb's Promise (Part 4/4)
What kept Jesus focused during the most excruciating moments of his life? As we explore the final hours of Christ's journey to the cross and his triumphant resurrection, we discover three powerful fixations that drove him forward through unimaginable suffering.
First, Jesus remained fixed on people—on us. Even while gasping for breath and carrying the weight of the world's sin, he took time to ensure his mother would be cared for, demonstrating that he sees us individually even in his greatest pain. The scripture reveals that "for the joy set before him, he endured the cross"—and astonishingly, that joy was you and me. Our reconciliation with the Father motivated his sacrifice. He didn't merely die to forgive us; he died to bring us home and reconnect us with God's family.
Second, Jesus was determined to finish his mission. When he declared "It is finished" from the cross, he wasn't simply announcing the end of his suffering but proclaiming the completion of God's redemptive plan. Every prophecy, every temple sacrifice throughout history had pointed to this moment. With those three words, Jesus eliminated the debt of sin permanently. There would be no more need for striving or sacrifice—the work was complete.
Finally, Jesus was fixed on victory. The stone wasn't rolled away because Jesus needed an exit; it was moved so we could witness his triumph over death. When Mary visited the tomb and encountered the risen Savior, the victory became deeply personal as he called her by name. This teaches us that if Jesus conquered death, he can overcome anything in our lives. If the tomb is empty, our hope doesn't have to be.
The resurrection isn't just a historical event—it's a personal victory with your name on it. As we celebrate Easter, remember that death couldn't hold him, the grave couldn't keep him, and now nothing can separate us from God's love. Will you, like Mary, become a witness to this life-changing victory?
Good morning. We're going to start our worship this morning and let's begin with a word of prayer Thank you for this morning. Thank you, father, for everybody that's in here. Thank you for your family that is represented here and we just pray, father, that this morning is uplifting and encouraging and we ask the Holy Spirit to be in here with us this morning to encourage us. And, father, thank you for your son and what he did for us. We want to remember that sacrifice this morning, lord, but we also want to celebrate the victory that he had and that we can share with him. We thank you for your son so much and what he did for us, and it's in his name we pray.
Speaker 2:Amen my Savior, waiting the coming day. Jesus, my Lord, vainly they watch his bed. Jesus, my Savior, Vainly they seal the dead. Jesus, my Lord, death cannot keep his prey. Jesus, my Savior, he tore the bars away. Jesus, my Lord, Up from the grave he arose with a mighty triumph for his foes. He arose. He arose a victor from the dark domain and he lives forever with his saints to reign. He arose, he arose, he arose. Hallelujah, Christ arose. God sent his Son. They called him.
Speaker 2:Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive, heal and forgive. He lived and died To buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone.
Speaker 2:Because, I know he holds the future and life is worth the living just because he lives. How sweet to hold a newborn baby and feel the pride and joy he gives, but greater still the calm assurance this child can face uncertain days because he lives. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone, because I know he holds the future and life is worth the living Just because he lives. And then one day I'll cross that river. I'll fight life's final war with pain and then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he reigns. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow because he lives. All fear is gone Because I know he holds the future and life is worth the living just because he lives.
Speaker 2:Beautiful Lamb of God, guiltless and pure as snow, gentle and merciful. Beautiful Lamb of God, sent from the Father's love, sent from the throne above, sent to redeem us with his blood. Beautiful Lamb of God, Guiltless and pure as snow, gentle and merciful. Beautiful Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb of God Suffering great pain for us, and by His wounds we all are healed. Beautiful Lamb of God, guiltless and pure as snow, gentle and merciful. Beautiful Lamb of God. Like sheep we've gone astray, each turned to his own way, but Jesus will take our sins away away. Beautiful Lamb of God, guiltless and pure as snow, gentle and merciful. Beautiful Lamb of God.
Speaker 1:Amen Good morning.
Speaker 4:Happy Easter. Today's scripture reading comes from Hebrews 12. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross. Let's begin with the word of prayer. Father, we thank you for this morning, god. We thank you for an opportunity to gather as believers, as brothers and sisters in Christ, to celebrate this moment where everything changed. Father, we're so thankful for your son. We thank you for Jesus and his life and the things that he was focused on, the things that he was fixed on, the mission that he came to accomplish. Father, we're so thankful that this morning we get to celebrate that the tomb was empty, that Jesus overcame death and, ultimately, that we are reconnected with you through that, and we're so thankful for that. Thank you for Jesus, and it's in His name we pray. Amen, good morning.
Speaker 4:Good morning, I want you to turn to your neighbor, whether you know them or not, and share with them your least favorite cookie. Just go ahead and tell them oatmeal raisin. All right, all right, I'm not singing again, I only know one song. All right, all right now. Now turn to them and share with them your favorite cookie, favorite cookie. 30 seconds, go, it's over. See you next week, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right.
Speaker 4:Speaking of cookies, bill Rogers made those. Yeah, if you didn't know, bill's a baker. No, bill brought me those cookies yesterday. Thanks, bill. Somebody else brought me cookies this week and I didn't take a picture because they were ate so fast. They were so good. Thank you, you know who you are.
Speaker 4:All right, I want you to think about this as we dive into this morning. You walk into the kitchen. You see a plate. It's sitting there. It's perfectly stacked with chocolate chip cookies. They're golden brown. The chocolate is a little bit melty. You can see it, you can almost taste it. As you walk towards them, you grab one. Your expectations are sky high. You take a big bite and it's a raisin. It is betrayal in baked form. You go from this is going to be the best thing ever to. Why does sadness taste like fiber? And we can laugh about a cookie. We can laugh about a cookie. But in life sometimes, when you have an expectation of what's going to happen and it's different, it's not so funny. Sometimes, instead of chocolate being raisins, sometimes it's pain instead of peace, sometimes it's heartbreak instead of hope.
Speaker 4:If you're joining us this morning for the first time, we're wrapping up a series this morning called Fixed, and what we've been doing over the last few weeks is just taking some time to look at what actually happened in the final moments of Jesus' life, and it's quite a lot. He's been through some really high moments where things were great and people were praising. He's been through moments where people were shouting at Him. He's had some moments where things were great and people were praising. He's been through moments where people were shouting at Him. He's had some moments where His closest friends are gathered around Him saying how much they love Him, and then he's had moments where one of His closest friends betrays Him. He's had to tell one of the followers hey, I know you're a believer and I know you love Me, but you're going to deny Me. These are the things that have happened, and last week we ended with Jesus being arrested and Judas kissing him on the cheek. So we're going to jump back into our story this morning. If you close your eyes or just kind of think on these things, I want you to walk with me in this moment.
Speaker 4:The garden was dark. The betrayal was clear. You could smell the olive trees in the cold night air. You could still hear His voice. It was steady and calm, even as the soldiers came crashing in with their swords and their torches. You ran, you stumbled, you watched as they tied His hands like a criminal.
Speaker 4:The One who calmed the seas is now bound like a thief. He's dragged before Annas. He's dragged before Caiaphas. He's dragged before Pilate. False witnesses have lied, leaders have shouted, the crowds have raged, yet he's barely spoken a word. He hasn't defended Himself. He stood there beaten, bloodied and silent. Pilate washes his hands of it.
Speaker 4:The people cry out for His death, and so they begin to whip the Savior, the Savior, again and again and again, until His back was torn open. They jammed a crown of thorns on His head, they mocked Him, they spit on Him and they smacked Him in the face. They threw the cross over His shoulders, the rough, splintered beam, heavy enough to crush the man himself. And they made Jesus walk, and each step he took, the ground seemed to shake. Each stumble, each gasp, each cry are sounds the world would never forget. And still he walked Out through the gates, up the rocky hill to the place of the skull. There, the soldiers stripped him of his clothes, laid Him down, stretched out His arms, and the hammer fell. The nails tore through His flesh and His bone, each blow, each sound. As they lifted Him up, the cross thudded down into the hole and the weight of the world hung there with Him, blood flowing, breath failing but eyes still full of love.
Speaker 4:Jesus was fixed not just to the cross, but on the mission, on obedience, on us and on victory. And it's right there, with the blood-soaked wood and its broken body, that we see a victory that nobody expected but every one of us needed. So we look at the life of Jesus in the last moments we see that Jesus was willingly desired to go through things that didn't seem necessary. We think about the last few moments of His life here. He was betrayed by a friend, judas, remember. He's sold out for a few pieces of silver. He's abandoned by a friend, peter's, going to try to stay faithful to Jesus, but he ends up abandoning Him. He's falsely accused and mocked. He's called before Pilate and Pilate, multiple times, says I don't see anything wrong with this man, I don't see any reason to punish him of a crime. Yet he's rejected by the crowd, he's mocked, he's beaten, he's humiliated and he's forced to carry the cross. So it leads us to ask the question why? What is he fixated on? What is it that he's focused on? What is it that kept His desire to be in the moment? Well, he's fixed on us. He is fixed on people. He is fixed on people. His focus is the mission. The mission is to reunite humans with the Father and he's fixed on that.
Speaker 4:We read in John 19,. Verse 25, it says, standing near the cross where Jesus' mother and His mother's sister, mary In Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, which is John John likes to talk about himself a little bit. He was always referred to as the one Jesus loved. He's going to let us know that a few times this morning. So anytime you see disciple he loved, that's John. He's there too. He said to her, to his mother here is your son. And he said to the disciple here is your mother. And from then on the disciple took her into his home.
Speaker 4:Jesus in a moment, gasping for breath. The soldiers are gambling for His clothes, the crowd is shouting and mocking him. He's carrying the weight of the world and in that moment he's concerned about who Us, specifically his mother. I want to make sure mom's taken care of. I've got the weight of the world on my shoulders, but I want to make sure you're taken care of. So he looks at John and he says that's your mother. And he looks at his mother and says this is your son. And it leads us to this idea that Jesus sees you. In this moment, when the weight of the world is on His shoulder, he's still looking and he's still fixated on you and I Taking care of you and I Making sure you andI have what we need, making sure you and I have the relationships that we need to get through. The moment he looks at His mother and says there is John, he will take care of you, even when everything is falling apart. Jesus is fixated on you.
Speaker 4:Hebrews 12, verse 2,. What Steeler read for us this morning. It says for the joy set before Him, he endured the cross. What's that joy? Alright, we'll be here all morning, guys Us. What's that joy? It's you. That's being reconnected with the Father, knowing that you will be reconnected with the Father. He endures the cross. You are the joy. You are the joy. God is still inviting people into the family. In His final breaths. He's creating new relationships. He's saying John, here is your mother, mother, here is your son.
Speaker 4:The cross didn't just make salvation possible. It brought us in and back to God's family, to God's family. Jesus didn't just die to forgive you. He died to bring you home, to reconnect you with the family. I'll give you a few minutes to catch up there. I see a lot of you are writing. How many of you are mad about the first slide? I know I saw I could see you all like he didn't give us enough time to write all that down, sorry. All right, the second thing he's fixed on finishing. He's fixed on finishing.
Speaker 4:We read in John 19, v. 28-30,. It says Jesus knew that His mission was now finished. And to fulfill Scripture, he said I am thirsty, and a jar of sour wine was sitting there. So they soaked a sponge in it and they put it on a branch and held it to His lips. And when Jesus tasted it, he they put it on a branch and held it to his lips. And when Jesus tasted it he said it is finished. And then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. He accepted the taste of a greatly diluted wine to wet his parched lips, to clear his throat so he could utter the words. Parched lips, to clear his throat so he could utter the words it is finished. He was accomplishing something. The pain was real, but it was all for a purpose. He came to complete the mission.
Speaker 4:One word can change everything, right. If you're sitting in the courtroom and the judge says not guilty, that changes everything, doesn't it? Or if you're playing baseball and the ball is hit to the outfield and they say fair ball, that changes everything, right, because if it was foul you just get to stay, but if it's fair, you better start running Right. Or when you really like a girl, you really like her, like you really really like her, like you kind of love her, and you get down on a knee and you have this ring and you say will you marry me? When she says no, it changes everything Right. No, when she says yes, it changes everything. I don't think as much as all of those words change the outcome. I don't think any word has been said that's changed anything more than it's finished.
Speaker 4:When Jesus said it's finished, the mission was done. The Son bore all of the guilt, all of the sin of the world to satisfy what needed to be done. It can change everything. It finished the plan of redemption. Think about it. Every prophecy, every moment in the Old Testament. Every sacrifice in the temple was all pointing to this very moment where Jesus could finally say it's finished. Every prophecy pointed towards it. Every moment in the Old Testament was leading to that moment. Right there, every sacrifice in the temple led to the ultimate sacrifice. It finished the payment for sin. There had to be no more sacrifices. There's no more striving to be what it is. There's no more striving to be what it is. There's no more debt. Jesus finished it and it finished the work that the Father gave Him.
Speaker 4:Even as the nails went into His hands, the sky went dark. Jesus stayed focused. He didn't just start the mission, he was planning to finish it. I want you to close your eyes again and imagine this moment for Mary. I want you to put your feet in Mary's sandals for a second.
Speaker 4:It was still dark as you made your way to the tomb. The streets were silent, except for the sound of your sandals scraping the dust. Every step felt a little heavier than the last. Your mind raced there's flashes of his face, his voice, his promises, but it was all swallowed by the horror of what you saw on that Friday. You couldn't understand how it had to end like that you thought to yourself it wasn't supposed to end like that. You carried spices in your hands and it was as the last gift that you could offer the one who had changed everything for you. You wanted to honor him, you wanted to mourn him properly. You wanted to weep at the place where his body was supposed to be laid.
Speaker 4:But when you arrived, the stone was rolled away and panic shot through you. Had someone taken Him? Wasn't he already humiliated enough? You thought you ran, you stumbled, you found Peter. You found John Out of breath. You're trying to figure out what in the world is going on. They raced, peter and John raced ahead, and when you caught up, you saw the linen cloths folded where his body was supposed to be. But he wasn't there. You stood outside, the tomb sobbing, broken beyond words. And then that's when you heard a voice Woman. Why are you crying? Who is it that you are looking for? You turn around through tears. You think it's just a gardener. Until he says your name, mary. That was all it took One word, spoken the way only he could say it, and suddenly the darkness cracked open and the world changed forever. He was alive. He was not stolen, he was not lost. He was alive. Victory wasn't coming later. Victory was standing right in front of you. You came to the tomb carrying spices for a dead savior and you left carrying a message from the living king. He is alive and because he is alive, everything is different. Jesus was fixed on victory, point number three. Jesus was fixed on victory. And then you'll see down there below, ps John was too.
Speaker 4:I want to point your attention to this verse because this is one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture, because it's just funny that God says, okay, that can be in there. So we've talked about John. John is the disciple that Jesus loved and he liked to let everybody know that. Well, here's what else he liked to let people know of. She ran this is Mary. After that interaction with Jesus, she ran and found Simon, peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. She said they have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb and we don't know where they put Him.
Speaker 4:Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter. You know who wrote that. The other disciple outran Peter. You know who wrote that. The other disciple John. He's like yo, I was faster, I got there faster. Don't let it be mistaken. Let it be written I am fast, I beat Peter. But then he tells on himself a little bit. I reached the tomb first. I stooped in and I looked. I saw the linen wrapping lying there. I didn't go in. Then Peter arrived and guess what he did? He went right on in.
Speaker 4:You think about Scripture as God-inspired God had a plan for all of it. He wants us to know John's fast. Okay, it's just there. Alright, if you learn nothing else this Easter, john's fast. Alright, here we go.
Speaker 4:Early on the morning, sunday morning, while it was still dark, mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away. Let me ask you this Did Jesus need the stone had been rolled away? Let me ask you this Did Jesus need the stone to be rolled away to walk out of that tomb? No, he didn't. He didn't. In fact, in a few verses we'll find out that the disciples are locked up in the house. They're scared, and guess who just appears? Jesus. So did he need that stone rolled away? You know who that stone's rolled away for. It's for you and I For us, as witnesses, so we could see the victory. The stone was rolled back so we could see the victory.
Speaker 4:She turned to leave, verse 14. She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus. But she didn't recognize him. Dear woman, why are you crying? Jesus asked her who are you looking for? She thought he was the gardener. So she said, sir, if you've taken him away, tell me where you've put him and I will go get him. You may ask how does she not recognize him? I don't know, guys. She went through the worst moment of her life just a few hours before she's grieving. We've all been there before.
Speaker 4:And so she's standing there looking at this man and she's concerned about where her Savior is, where her leader is, where her teacher, where her mentor is. She's concerned on where the body is, because she wants to honor the Son. He says who are you looking for? And she says just tell me where he is. And then he says one word. He doesn't say hey, it's me. He doesn't say it's the Son of God standing in front of you. He says and then, the only way that he could say it, mary, in a voice, in a way that she would recognize that it was her Savior, that it was the Son of God. She turned to Him immediately after hearing her name and she cries out Teacher, teacher. She knows immediately it's Jesus.
Speaker 4:You see, the victory gets personal. The victory on the cross becomes personal. It's for Mary. You could go back, and Mark and I were talking about this after the 830. Sometimes you can make Scripture a little more personal. You could change that to your name. He did it for you. He didn't just do it for Mary, he did it for you, he did it for Kyle. He did it for you. He didn't just do it for Mary, he did it for you, he did it for Kyle. He did it for Logan. He did it for Dakota, he did it for all of us. It's personal. This victory is not just for one, it's for all.
Speaker 4:And then he tells her this. She turns around and says Teacher, and I imagine she's just giving him the biggest hug in the world. And he says don't cling to me, I haven't yet went and ascended to the Father. But here's what I need you to do Go tell, go, tell, go tell the brothers, my brothers, and tell them, go tell everybody what has just taken place, because the victory gives us a mission. Mary becomes the first witness of Jesus. She's the first person that goes out and tells everybody about the victory of Jesus.
Speaker 4:And so, as we think about this special moment this morning, if Jesus can overcome death, then he can overcome a lot of things. If the tomb is empty, if the tomb is empty, your hope doesn't have to be. If he is alive, then faith isn't wishful thinking. It's rooted in victory. Let's pray, father. We thank you so much for everything that you've done for us and what you do for us. We come to you this morning just thankful. We're thankful for a love that chose the cross. We're thankful for mercy that runs after us even when we run away. We're thankful for a victory that we could never earn, but you freely gave to us. Today, as we reflect and look at the empty tomb, we realize that you just didn't defeat death, father, that you defeated everything that's ever separated us from you. Father, you are the holy one, you are the only one and you are the king that deserves it all. Amen.
Speaker 4:After walking through the pain of the cross, the heartbreak in the garden, the anger at empty religion, and now the triumphant resurrection, we're left with only a few questions. Who else commands all the hosts of heavens? Who else could make every king bow down. Who else could rescue me from failing? There's only one, only a holy god. We're about to sing a few songs this morning and go into a time of worship, and we want to offer this as a time. If you need the prayers of the church family in any way, or if you'd like to pledge loyalty to King Jesus this morning and have your sins washed away, we can do that as well. The elders are going to come forward this morning, a few of our elders. They're here to pray with you and for you if you need any of the prayers as we sing a few songs as an extended invitation this morning.
Speaker 1:Who else commands all the hosts of heaven?
Speaker 2:Who else could make every king bow down? Who else could?
Speaker 1:whisper and darkness tremble.
Speaker 2:Only a holy God. Come and come and worship the holy god. What other beauty demands such praises? What? Other splendor outshines the sun. What a majesty rules with justice? Only a holy God. Come and behold him. The one and the only Cry out sing holy Forever. A holy God, come and worship the holy God. What other? Glory consumes like fire. What? Other glory, consumes like fire.
Speaker 2:What other power can raise the dead. What other name remains undefeated? Only a holy God. Come and behold Him. The one and the only Cry out sing holy forever a holy God. Come and worship the holy God, holy, holy, holy Lord, god Almighty, early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty, mighty God in three persons, blessed Trinity. Come and behold Him. The one and the only Cry out sing holy forever a holy God. Come and worship the holy God. Men of sorrows, what a name For the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim Hallelujah. What a Savior. Lifted up was he to die? It is finished. Was His cry? Now in heaven, exalted high Hallelujah. What a Savior. When he comes, our glorious King, all His ransom home, to bring Then anew this song, we'll sing Alleluia. What a Savior.
Speaker 1:A thousand generations.
Speaker 2:Fall, falling down in worship To sing the song of ages to the Lamb. And all who've gone before us and all who will believe Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb. Your name is the highest, your name is the greatest. Your name stands above them all, all thrones and dominions, all powers and positions. Your name stands above them all and the angels cry holy. All creation cries holy. You are lifted high, holy holy forever.
Speaker 2:If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed. And if you've been redeemed, sing the song forever to the Lamb. If you walk in freedom and if you bear his name, sing the song forever to the Lamb. We'll sing the song forever, and amen. And the angels cry. Holy, holy forever. Hear your people sing. Holy to the King of kings. Holy, you will always be Holy, holy forever. Your name is the highest, your name is the greatest. Your name stands above them all, all thrones and dominions, all powers and positions. Your name stands above them all and the angels cry above them all.
Speaker 2:And the angels cry Holy, all creation cries. Holy, you are lifted high, holy, holy forever. Your people sing Holy to the King of kings. Holy you will always be, you will always be Holy, holy forever, you will always be Holy.
Speaker 4:Holy forever.
Speaker 1:Let's finish our morning with one more song together. Goodness of God.
Speaker 2:I love you, Lord. Oh, your mercy never fails me. All my days I've been held in your hands. From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head, I will sing of the goodness of God. All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God. I love your voice. You have led me through the fire In darkest night. You are close like no other. I've known you as a father. I've known you as a friend. I have lived in the goodness of God All my life.
Speaker 2:You have been faithful All my life. You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me With my life laid down.
Speaker 3:I surrender now. I give you everything. Your goodness is running after. It's running after me.
Speaker 2:Your goodness is running after it's running after me. Your goodness is running after it's running after me. With my life laid down, I surrender now. I give you everything. Your goodness is running after it's running after me All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God. I will sing of the goodness of. God.
Speaker 1:Amen. God bless you everybody. Have a great week. Tell somebody the good news this week Jesus is risen.