Next week is Easter and I’m looking forward to it. What is it about Easter that is so encouraging? Why is Easter the most attended Sunday of the year in churches? Maybe it has something to do with the season. Spring is a beautiful time of year but I believe it’s more than that. Easter is special because God’s power to overcome any obstacle was demonstrated when Jesus was raised from the dead.
In order for there to be an Easter, there first had to be a cross. That’s what we’re going to talk about today. Today my message is entitled “Experience The Power Of The Cross.” The cross of Christ is at the heart of Christianity. In the cross of Jesus, the power of God was released. You and I need to experience the power of God in our lives. NIV 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Life is complex, life is challenging, life throws you curveballs that you can’t handle. We need God’s power in our lives and to experience that power we need to get near the cross. There were four soldiers who crucified Jesus near the cross, but they were there out of duty. We need to draw near to Jesus’ cross, not out of duty, but out of love for Him, out of love for what He has done for us.
Today we’re going to look at three people who were near the cross to the end. They were near to the cross because they loved Jesus. Each one experienced the power of the cross in their own lives. Mary Magdalene was there, she found freedom near the cross. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was there, she received a reward near the cross. Finally John, the disciple that Jesus loved was there, he discovered direction. Today, let’s draw near to the cross, not just to study ancient history, but to experience it’s power in our own lives.
To hear more about this topic, listen to my April 9, 2006 message entitled Experience The Power Of The Cross