THE PURPOSE OF EASTER

Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”OUR LAST MINUTE PARDON1. A CONDEMNED LIFE UNDERSTANDS THEY ARE GETTING WHAT THEY DESERVE.Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”Romans 10:13 Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ now, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

2. WE WERE SENTENCED AND SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN DEATH - JESUS CAME ALONG TO PARDON US.

Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

3. A PARDONED LIFE OUT OF GRATITUDE THINKS OF OTHERS MORE THAN THEMSELVES.

Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him…Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.

THE PARDON OF EASTER WHICH WAS GODS PURPOSE GIVES US OUR PURPOSE

1. YOU WERE CREATED TO SERVE OTHERS.Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

2. YOU WERE SAVED TO SERVE OTHERS.God’s word is filled with numerous examples of how people served Jesus.

• Upon being healed, Peter’s mother-in-law arose and began to serve Jesus

• As Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem for a busy week of ministry he stopped at Mary and Martha’s for some hospitality.

• Women travelled with Jesus to finances the ministry.

• Parties were thrown to introduce Jesus to the lost. • Lunches were offered as a last minute provision. • Jesus borrowed boats.• Jesus ate his last meal in an upper room. • His corpse was laid in someone else’s tomb.

3. YOU ARE CALLED TO SERVE OTHERS.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.

Mark 10:45: “Jesus Christ came to serve and give His life a ransom for many.”

Once we are saved, our lives should be driven by those two verbs - “serve” and “give.”

4. GOD HAS A WHO’S WHO LIST OF PEOPLE HE USED THAT WILL KEEP US FROM MAKING EXCUSESAbraham was old Jacob was a deceiverMoses stutteredGideon was poor Samson was co-dependentRahab was immoralJeremiah was depressedJonah was rebelliousJohn the Baptist was weirdPeter had an anger problemMartha was a worrierTimothy was young

SOME SURPRISING INSIGHTS

1. WHILE THOSE WHO KNEW JESUS BEST WERE LOSING THEIR FAITH AT THE CROSS, THE THIEF WAS FINDING HIS.

2. EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY IS IMPORTANT AND A TESTIMONY OF YOUR VALUE TO GOD.

3. YOU’RE GOING TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO SOMETHING.

Why not give it to something that will matter for eternity?

4. GOD WANTS TO USE YOU; THE ONLY THING KEEPING YOU FROM BEING USED IS YOUR EXCUSES.