What in the world can we hold on to that will allow us to be what we were created and called to be?
Don’t Miss the Importance or Intensity of This Moment
15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
This meal was not really what we think of when we think of communion today in church. This was an evening meal, what Jesus is doing is a part of the evening meal; the meal was one that was an enjoyable meal needed for sustenance.
It was important because after this meal Jesus would not eat again before His death. He died almost 24 hours later
So this meal…this moment…was pivotal in Jesus communicating some important things
(v.15) With desire I have desired.
A Hebrew idiom which intensifies the meaning of the verb
Before I suffer
He indicated that the entire supper should be interpreted in the light of his death.
Lets connect this to the thoughts we have already looked at
Jesus knows that we don’t measure up. He understands that we don’t have what it takes to be holy…
So He is going to take care of it
The wording here is important, this verse is not looked at intensely enough
He is desiring…He longs, He has been waiting to share and show them what is going to happen..
The reason, this is the plan…
Everything He is going to explain must be understood in light of what He was going to do…
In other words…here is the plan…this is it!
This is His answer as to how you can make it…how you can be what you were created to be…how to fulfill your destiny!
The Moment When Hope Returns
(v.19-20)
Before His death, Jesus took bread and explained, “This is my body given for [hyper] you. And presenting the cup, he explained. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for [hyper] you. (v.19-20)
Draw hope today from a five letter Greek word
The word is HYPER (hooper)
Hyper means “in place of” or “on behalf of”
It is an unusual word, but not an accident
The New Testament writers frequently turned to this specific word to describe the work of Jesus
Christ died for [hyper] our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3)
Jesus gave himself for [hyper] our sins (Gal. 1:4)
The good shepherd lays down his life for [hyper] the sheep (John 10:11)
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for [hyper] his friends (John 15:13)
Sounding hyper about hyper
The point is crucial
Jesus exchanged hearts with you
In place of! – On behalf of!
Yes, your thieving, murderous, wicked heart…He placed your sin on Himself and invited God to punish it
This is no transplant, but a swap
The holy and the vile swap locations
Jesus makes healthy what was sick
Right what was wrong
Straight what was crooked
We approach the Savior with our lives…scarred, flawed, and beat up….
We ask the question, “Can you do something with this heart? My heart?”
He nods and smiles… “Suppose we discuss a swap.”
Team Hoyt consists of a father/son squad.
Dick and Rick. They race a lot!
64 marathons, 2006 triathlons, 6 triathlons at iron man distance
204 - 10K runs
http://www.teamhoyt.com/
Since 1975 they have crossed nearly a thousand finish lines
They’ve even crossed the USA.
It took them 45 days to run and pedal 3,735 miles but they did it!
Team Hoyt loves races
But only half of Team Hoyt can run
Dick, the dad can, but Rick’s legs don’t work, nor does his speech
At his birth in 1962 his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, starving oxygen from his brain, stealing coordination from his body.
Doctors gave no hope for his development
Dick and his wife Judy disagreed with the prognosis
Rick couldn’t bathe, dress, or feed himself, but he could think
They knew he was bright
So they enrolled him in public school
He graduated
He entered college and graduated again
But Rick wanted to run
At age 15 he asked his dad if they could enter a five mile benefit race
Dick was not a runner, but he was a father, so he loaded his son into a three wheeled wheel chair and off they went
They haven’t stopped since
Rick Hoyt relies on his dad to do it all for him
Lift him, push him, pedal him, and tow him
Rick brings the willing heart and relies on the strength of his dad
When Dick and Rick cross finish lines, both receive finisher medals
Post race listings include both names
The father does the work…but the son shares in the victory
Why?
Because the son trusts and believes the father will get him where he needs to go
Willing heart, trusted in the right place, they both celebrate the finish
If you would like to watch the You Tube video that was shown in celebration worship click the link below...
As you do...
Think...
Do you have a heart that is willing to trust the Father will get you where you need to go?
Do you trust Him enough to allow Him to be your strength when yours alone won't get you where you need to be?
Are you willing to trust Him enough...to pick you up...carry you...and make sure you get to just the place that He has for you to be?
Will you trust Him for the adventure of a lifetime?
As you listen to the song, remember the powerful image of a father, who is willing to do whatever it takes to get his child where he needs to be....In the context of our worship experience at CCC...If you have a willing heart, this is the moment that God is ready to get you where you need to be!
Click below for an expanded version of what we saw in celebration worship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS596VsNEOE
Now back to you and God....
He is the only One who knows what is in front of you
He is the only One who knows what is waiting and what will happen next
You have to be willing to trust and believe…
He will get you where you want to go…
The moment is His, the moment is now, the choice of what to do with the moment is up to you….
