Hebrews 12:18-25a

HEAVEN OPENS: HEAVEN OPENS: IT TOOK MY IT TOOK MY

BREATH AWAYBREATH AWAY

The resurrection was confusing to the disciples of Jesus!

What happened?

What did it mean?

PAINT A PICTURE OF GOD FROM THE PAINT A PICTURE OF GOD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A HEBREW, 1500 B.C.PERSPECTIVE OF A HEBREW, 1500 B.C.

That view of God (Old Covenant) bleeds over into the That view of God (Old Covenant) bleeds over into the common view of God.common view of God.● ● Booming VoiceBooming Voice● ● Big FistBig Fist● ● Mountain on fireMountain on fire● ● Trumpet blastTrumpet blast● ● Darkness, gloom and stormDarkness, gloom and storm● ● Frightening voice from a non-resident CreatorFrightening voice from a non-resident Creator● ● Terrifying sightTerrifying sight● ● Commands which, when violated, resulted in deathCommands which, when violated, resulted in death● ● Judgment & punishment by the religious establishmentJudgment & punishment by the religious establishment

Hebrews 12:18-25a Hebrews 12:18-25a (Message Translation)(Message Translation)

   18-21 18-21 Unlike your ancestors, you didn't come to Unlike your ancestors, you didn't come to Mount Sinai—all that volcanic blaze and Mount Sinai—all that volcanic blaze and earthshaking rumble—to hear God speak. The earthshaking rumble—to hear God speak. The earsplitting words and soul-shaking message earsplitting words and soul-shaking message terrified them and they begged him to stop. When terrified them and they begged him to stop. When they heard the words—"If an animal touches the they heard the words—"If an animal touches the Mountain, it's as good as dead"—they were afraid to Mountain, it's as good as dead"—they were afraid to move. Even Moses was terrified.move. Even Moses was terrified.

Hebrews 12:18-25a Hebrews 12:18-25a (Message Translation)(Message Translation)

22-25a22-25a No, that's not your experience at all. You've No, that's not your experience at all. You've come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just. You've come to Jesus, who presents make us just. You've come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel's—a homicide that cried out for Jesus, unlike Abel's—a homicide that cried out for vengeance—became a proclamation of grace.vengeance—became a proclamation of grace.

So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words.So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words.

NOW PAINT A PICTURE GOD’S KINGDOMWould it look like this?

““The Resurrection” is a The Resurrection” is a massive painting by Robert massive painting by Robert Clark that shows heaven’s Clark that shows heaven’s opening on Easter morning!opening on Easter morning!

In 2000 CBS aired the Jesus Series. But they censored the ending.

The ending of this clip -Jesus with the children- was censored by CBS.

CBS felt that viewers would be offended to see Jesus in the world today setting up his kingdom.

The part cut comes after the window scene

TODAY WE CELEBRATE EASTER!THE DAY GOD’S KINGDOM WAS OPEN TO YOU.

O God! Thank you for this new day. This new way of relating to you. Thank you for opening heaven to me.

Because I am a sinner whose only hope is through Jesus, my redeemer, I am even more thankful for your awesome love and grace this Easter day.

O God! Thank you for this new day. This new way of relating to you. Thank you for opening heaven to me.

Because I am a sinner whose only hope is through Jesus, my redeemer, I am even more thankful for your awesome love and grace this Easter day.

Following his resurrection Jesus appeared to the disciples in the same room as the last Supper.

Suddenly communion with God took on new meaning!

Remembering all Remembering all what Easter is all what Easter is all about!about!

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

I choose to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

A gift of thanks.A gift of thanks.

THE BREATH TAKING THE BREATH TAKING MEANING OF EASTERMEANING OF EASTER

The Mountain of Fear and The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joythe Mountain of Joy

Hebrews 12:18-25a (TNIV)Hebrews 12:18-25a (TNIV)

Hebrews 12:18-21 Hebrews 12:18-21 (TNIV)(TNIV)

18 18 You have not come to a mountain that can be You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; gloom and storm; 1919 to a trumpet blast or to such a to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, that no further word be spoken to them, 20 20 because because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." death." 2121 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear." "I am trembling with fear."

Hebrews 12:22-24 Hebrews 12:22-24 (TNIV)(TNIV)

22 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, But you have come to Mount Zion, ● ● to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. ● ● You have come to thousands upon thousands of You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,angels in joyful assembly, ● ● 2323 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. written in heaven. ● ● You have come to God, the Judge of all, You have come to God, the Judge of all, ● ● to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ● ● 2424 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, ● ● and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. than the blood of Abel.

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This Easter remember that as you go back to your everyday routines that our resurrected Lord goes with you in all that you do. And that heaven is open to you.

O God! Thank you for this new day. This new way of relating to you. Thank you for opening heaven to me.

Because I am a sinner whose only hope is through Jesus, my redeemer, I am even more thankful for your awesome love and grace this Easter day.

O God! Thank you for this new day. This new way of relating to you. Thank you for opening heaven to me.

Because I am a sinner whose only hope is through Jesus, my redeemer, I am even more thankful for your awesome love and grace this Easter day.

Go and bless others. Go and bless others. Because, God can do Because, God can do anything, far more than anything, far more than you could ever imagine you could ever imagine or guess or request or guess or request through you toward through you toward others.others.