He is Risen!

Peter denied

Judas betrayed

Pilate surrendered

Mary's wept

Citizens chose Barabbas

As they all shouted "Crucify Him."

We all can look at the resurrection story and believe we'd be the Mary's weeping at the fact that He would be crucified. In reality, we'd be Peter, Judas, Pilate, the citizens choosing Barabbas, the ones shouting "crucify Him." Our sin is what nailed Him to the cross. We would be anyone but Mary (and of course Jesus). We would be like the sinner on the cross next to Him, questioning His authority by saying if He really was the Son of God, He'd save Himself and them. Ah, but only if that man knew how different God's kingdom was than the worlds. If we ever forget that the cross is about our brokenness and God's perfection and love, we forget the value. We would be the people yelling "crucify Him." We are not as innocent as the devil wants to make us believe. Belief of innocence can hinder needed repentance. Thank you, Jesus for choosing to come to this world, even though you knew the cost. Thank the Lord that even though we would be the worst characters of the story, He died for us still. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were STILL sinners, Christ died for us." He knew our sins and died for them, bore the weight of them before we were made new. Last post, we sat in the heaviness of Good Friday. Thank You that such a dark Friday resulted in the most joyful Sunday. In John 16:33 it says, "I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace, in this world you will have tribulation: But take heart, I have overcome the world." He has overcome all things and faced all things, things much worse than we ever will. Thank You, Jesus that what we face, You've overcome. Thank You that You overcame death, sin, and darkness. Darkness doesn't overcome You. I love that we serve the God who restores and redeems. Who didn't leave us in our brokenness, but guides us back, saves us in our brokenness. I love that in the Luke account (Luke 24) of Jesus' resurrection, as the other disciples did not believe the Mary's that Jesus had risen, Peter ran. Peter, the one who denied Jesus, not once, but three times, got up and ran to the tomb. Man, what weight must have been lifted off of Peter. What joy. Jesus was alive. Peter had hope. It's like the story of the prodigal son running back to his father. Wow, if that isn't us. When I mess up, I hope I have the courage and the repentant heart to realize it and run in hope, humility, and repentance to my Father.

Thank you, Jesus that You are the Hope of hopes. You are what everything else rests on and revolves around. That without You, the word hope would hold no meaning. Thank You that You aren't just a hope, You are our Living Hope. Hope: expect with confidence, desiring with anticipation. The confident expectation of what God has promised. Its strength is in His faithfulness. All the things people hope in and all disappoint, except our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is and will always be our Living, constant, forever, unwavering Hope.

Happy Easter Sky Speaks fam! :)

He is risen! Thank God He kept that promise and continues to be faithful!