- Easter is a special time!
- A time when we celebrate what Jesus did for us.
- We remember how He died for us.
- And we remember how He rose again and conquered death.
- We remember how He made it possible for our sins to be forgiven.
- We remember how the access to the Holy of Holies was open for all.
- It is a special time!

- Jesus is the Messiah!
- Generations had waited for Him.
- The Saviour, the Prince of Peace.
- Pilate questioned Jesus on this very issue.
- Luke 23:3 So Pilate asked Him, "Are You their Messiah - their King?"
"Yes," Jesus replied, "it is as you say."
- By His own admission, Jesus settled the issue - forever.
- Never to be debated again.
- Jesus reply was YES.
- He is the Messiah!
- He is the Saviour!
- He is the Prince of Peace, the mighty God, the one we all needed.
- Today He can be your Messiah.

- This was the cry of the people.
- Luke 23:20-21 Pilate argued with them, for he wanted to release Jesus. But they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
- Today people still shout those words in their hearts.
- Crucifixion was their idea.
- This was humanities cry.
- Still today people reject Him.
- Don't reject Jesus today!
- Invite Him into your hearts.

- Pilate sentenced Jesus to die.
- He did what the people wanted.
- Luke 23:24 So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.
- They released a criminal (Barnabas) and sentenced Jesus to death.
- Jesus was the innocent one.
- The innocent had to pay the price for the guilty.
- Jesus was willing to do this.
- For all the generations.
- It was for you and me.

- Jesus was able to forgive.
- In the midst of all the suffering and injustice He could forgive.
- He could because He knew no sin.
- Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive these people," Jesus said, "for they don't know what they are doing."
- Jesus did not retaliate.
- He did not fight back.
- Jesus entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
- He left the judging to God.
- He did not look for revenge.
- He did not demand an apology.
- He just forgave.
- Never, never, has there been such love.

- They saw it through!
- The crucified Jesus, the Messiah!
- Luke 23:32 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him.
- In a moment prophecy was fulfilled.
- Imagine the pain and the suffering.
- This is an extended death.
- Not a 'kind' quick death.
- But an extended suffering.
- THEY CRUCIFIED HIM!

- Luke 23:44-45 By now it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land for three hours, until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone - and suddenly the thick veil hanging in the Temple split apart.
- This was a significant event.
- The curtain had separated the Holy of Holies from the temple.
- Only the high priest was able, once a year, to enter the very presence of God.
- In this instant, the Holy of Holies was opened to all.
- We could have access to the presence of God.
- Access to God was made available to us forever.

- History's turning point.
- As Jesus died.
- Luke 23:46 Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I commit My Spirit to You," and with those words He died.
- At this time God turned His back on Jesus!
- As He placed the sin of the world on His Son.
- Jesus died for you and for me.
- He is the turning point of our lives.

- Luke 24:1-3 But very early on Sunday morning they took the ointments to the tomb - and found that the huge stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. So they went in - but the Lord Jesus' body was gone.
- When Jesus died, even His disciples and friends lost hope.
- They went to look for His body in the tomb.
- Every effort had been made to secure His body.
- The tomb had been sealed.
- Guards had been placed on duty to guard the tomb.
- But by the time the disciples got there, He was gone.

- Luke 24:6 He isn't here! He has come back to life again!
- He is alive!
- What a story.
- Alive never to die again.
- Having made the way clear for us to know Him and to have eternal life.
- God's gift to us was Jesus.
- Today Jesus is still God's gift to each of us.
- Have you accepted this gift?
- If so then let's rejoice today.
- If not, why not?