The Story that Changes Everything

Easter Weekend | Gareth Nicholson | 20 Apr 2025

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Text Mark 14 - 16 (NIV)

Thursday - The Table - REMEMBRANCE (AND REVELATION)

Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover with the traditional 4 cups, each one representing a promise from Exodus 6.

6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. Exodus 6:6-7

• Jesus is re-enacting the EXODUS  story,  connecting the moment into a bigger story.

• He shifts the focus from history to the present reality

  • Sanctification  = FOLLOW JESUS  (Sundays)

  • Deliverance = KNOW TRUE IDENTITY (The Pathway)

  • Redemption = GROW IN FREEDOM (Life Groups)

  • Praise - together, God's people  - GO LIVE IN PURPOSE  (Dream Team)

Friday - The Cross - REDEMPTION

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood —to be received by faith. Romans 3:23-25

• REDEMPTION -  bought back

• ATONEMENT  - Making amends for wrong.

• SUBSTITUTION - One person takes the place of another

Receive by faith!

Forgiveness is just the start!

Saturday & Sunday - The Tomb - RESURRECTION

• Saturday - Silent Sabbath, Heartbreak, Despair, No idea what was going to happen next.

• Sunday arrives.

• The resurrection means death was defeated

• The empty tomb means the cross was a victory, not a defeat

•  Jesus' resurrection means that God's new world, new creation, new Kingdom has already begun.

• The Kingdom began to arrive, the plan was underway.

14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:,14,17

Follow Jesus, Know True Identity, Grow in Freedom, Go live with Purpose.

These events are not just to be thought about, but form a story in which we are called to live

God's new world has begun, and you are invited to be a part of it.

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Discussion Questions for Life Groups:

1. Has your perspective begun to shift from "Jesus died for my sins" to "Jesus was raised to life so that I can die and be raised to life?"

2. Why do you think that none of the Gospel accounts said," Jesus is alive, so that means we can go to heaven when we die"?

3. If the putting right of creation has begun, what signs have you seen that change is happening? What can you do on a micro level to facilitate kingdom change?