Jesus Has, Too - You Can, Too

This week’s post is written by a VERY special guest writer.  Vonda Kay Goodman, my wife, is a person who is truly committed to living her everyday, ordinary life for God. The light of Christ shines through her.

I asked her permission to share her notes from the message she delivered just after Easter on April 13th with the residents of Anchorage’s Downtown Hope Center. Their mission is to "provide a hand up and out of homelessness."

Read Vonda Kay's notes slowly and listen for God’s voice in them. 

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• Last week was Good Friday when we remember Jesus died for us and Easter Sunday when He overcame death.
• There is a new song from Phil Wickham called “Sunday is Coming.”  The main lines are:

Friday's good cause Sunday is coming
Don't lose hope, cause Sunday is coming
Devil, you're done, you better start running
Friday's good cause Sunday is coming

• We’re going to go back through the events from Good Friday to Easter together.
• In the Garden of Gethsemane before Jesus was arrested and later crucified, He was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38)
  • Have you been overwhelmed with sorrow?
  • Jesus has too.
• Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest friends.
  • Have you been betrayed by someone close?
  • Jesus has too.
• All of Jesus’ friends left Him during the most difficult time in His life.
  • Have your friends left?  
  • Have you been alone?
  • Jesus has too.
• Jesus was falsely accused.
  • Have you been blamed for something that you did not do?
  • Jesus has too.
• Jesus was imprisoned.
  • Have you been in jail or prison?
  • Jesus has too.
• Jesus was brutally beaten to the point of being disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:14)
  • Have you been physically abused?
  • Jesus has too.
• Jesus was cussed at, mocked, and spit on.
  • Have you been emotionally abused?
  • Jesus has too.
• Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
  • Have you been separated from the Father because of your sins?
  • Jesus has too…   but not because of His sins (because He had no sins), but because He took on our sins.
    
• Saturday was silent as Jesus lay in the tomb.  The lyrics to "Rattle" (from Elevation Worship" include:
  

Saturday was silent
Surely it was through
But since when has impossible
Ever stopped You
Friday’s disappointment
Is Sunday’s empty tomb
Since when has impossible
Ever stopped You

• When the women went to the tomb on Easter Sunday, the angels said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6)
  
•  Jesus went from death to life!
  • You can too!
• Jesus went from darkness to light.
  •  You can too!
• Jesus went from a prisoner to freedom.
  • You can too!
• Jesus went from sorrow to joy.
  • You can too!
• Jesus went from defeat to victory!
  • You can too!

#ordinarylives