SPEAKER_00 0:08

Jesus says, I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me, and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Welcome to Pillar's Abide in Me podcast. A weekly opportunity to abide in Christ through weekly pillar sermon and worship reflections. I'm Christian.

SPEAKER_01 0:29

And I'm Trish. Hear these words from the book we love. So they took Jesus and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called the place of the skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him and with two others, one on each side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said, in order to fulfill the scripture, I am thirsty. A jar full of sour wine was standing there, so they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, It is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SPEAKER_00 1:32

In the world you face trouble, but take courage. I've conquered the world. Christ says, I've conquered the world. I've overcome the world. Jesus walks from Jerusalem down through the Kidron Valley up into the Mount of Olives. Judas betrays, Peter denies, Rome arrests, Caiaphas accuses, Pilate sentences, the world hangs him on a cross, left to die for all humanity to see. He was in the world and the world came into being through him, but the world didn't know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people didn't accept him. He hangs there by the world, for the world. Take heart, I've conquered the world. He defeated the world, not playing by the world's rules. He didn't overcome the world by winning the world's game. He entered into the world and saved it through a cross and rescued it from a grave. He made death life. He took on shame and gave it back as love. Take heart, I've conquered the world. Those who serve become the richest of all, and those who give become the ones who have the most. And the kind turn out to be the leaders. Everything gets flipped. Take heart, I've conquered the world. The way to the place you want to go is not down the path that is well grooved for you. It's the way of Christ. It's the way of the cross. It's the way of humility and empathy. It's the way of weakness and sacrifice. It's the way of Jesus. The way up is down. Ascending requires falling. To live is Christ and to die is gain. Take heart. I have conquered the world. Take heart. Be courageous. Be of good cheer. Smile, laugh, play, live, love, serve, give, host. Be nice and say, I'm sorry, and say, you're forgiven. We're all gonna wake up someday and realize all our scratching and clawing and fighting and fussing to win whatever game it is we're playing is actually the way to lose. Not just a game, your soul. Take heart, I have conquered the world. Jesus cries out on the cross, it is finished. It's over, it's done. The work is complete, salvation accomplished, redemption at hand. Take heart, I've conquered the world. So be free, be at peace, live, love, serve, give, hope, smile, and laugh.

SPEAKER_01 5:29

For our part as a pillar community, we'd love to be praying for you. So feel free to reach out to us at abide at pillarchurch.com. And if you're willing, receive this blessing. Grace and peace to you from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.