Church of the Nazarene East Rock

All Things New: The New Life
The old was hung on a cross and the new was born.

This Easter series “All Things New” is based on the idea that we not only like new, but we also desperately need “new” and that new that we need is available to us through literal new life in Christ – the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus touches the deep longing within our hearts for things to be different than what we see around us.

The longing for hope. The need for joy and peace.

The longing for a story to belong too. Something to give our lives too

That’s the new we need. That’s the new life we find in Christ.

‭‭John‬ ‭20:11-18‬‬
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Resurrection Sunday is the greatest day in human history, because it is the source of new life for all.

The resurrection of Jesus means we aren’t bound to the old way, we aren’t limited by the past, and we don’t have to settle for what we see all around us.
Death no longer has the victory- sin doesn’t have the power anymore.

-Mary’s past was filled with pain and shame (she had been possessed by demons when she met Jesus), but she is at the forefront of Jesus’ ministry throughout the Gospels.
-Mary’s past didn’t disqualify her from being the first eye-witness of the resurrected Jesus.
-She comes to the tomb broken-hearted. She wasn’t anticipating resurrection.
-She does not recognize Jesus, until He calls her name. Jesus didn’t reveal Himself to Mary by telling her who He was, but by telling her who she was to Him.

Imagine the resurrected Jesus calling your name. What would that feel like?
Reconciliation
Forgiveness
A sense of belonging
Freedom from guilt and shame
Freedom from your past mistakes.
A purpose for your life
A sense of peace and worth knowing that you are deeply loved.

The truth is, your life is a story full of joy and pain, laughter and sadness.
And the idea of new life – the work that Jesus did – is designed to change your story right now.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬‬
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today, He calls your name.
He sees you right where you are.
He knows your story.
Nothing has to separate you, nothing in your past, and nothing in your present.

As He calls you, He invites you into new life.

Verses for further study/reflection:
Hebrews 2:14-18
Isaiah 43:16-19
John 11:25
John 20
2 Timothy 1:10
John 3:3
John 3:5
Romans 10:9
2 Corinthians 5:17
Lamentations 3:23

http://bible.com/events/48874458

All Things New: The New Rules
Victory comes through suffering and sacrifice not strength and striving

This series is based on the idea that we desperately need “new” and that new is available to us through Jesus.

Jesus surprises us.
Consider the triumphal entry when they thought they were welcoming a mighty warrior king, but instead they were ushering the suffering savior to death on a cross!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:1-11‬‬
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭9:9-12‬‬
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

We don’t expect that sequence of three words to describe a king:
righteous…victorious…lowly

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:41-44‬‬
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

He came in peace to give the people peace. They preferred salvation from taxation to salvation of their souls – and so in a few days they would prefer Barabbas to be freed instead of Jesus. Jesus could see that this was their mindset, and so in the midst of this praise, with people waving the palm branches like a national flag, Jesus wept.” – Paul Wallace

Are we guilty of treating Jesus like those who welcomed him to the city on the first Palm Sunday?

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:1-5‬‬
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

What we think will save us can’t,
what we never imagined could, will.

Verses for further study/reflection:
John 12:12-16
John 3:3
John 3:5
Romans 10:9
2 Corinthians 5:17
Lamentations 3:23

All Things New: The New Rules
Victory comes through suffering and sacrifice not strength and striving

This series is based on the idea that we desperately need “new” and that new is available to us through Jesus.

Jesus surprises us.
Consider the triumphal entry when they thought they were welcoming a mighty warrior king, but instead they were ushering the suffering savior to death on a cross!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:1-11‬‬
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭9:9-12‬‬
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:41-44‬‬
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:1-5‬‬
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Verses for further study/reflection:
John 12:12-16
John 3:3
John 3:5
Romans 10:9
2 Corinthians 5:17
Lamentations 3:23