Set FreeSet Free

To Receive LoveTo Receive Love

Jesus is down for whatever…Jesus is down for whatever…

SeparationSeparation

- God doesn't like me much - God doesn't like me much yetyet- I can fix it- I can fix it

God is a God of: God is a God of:

SeparationSeparationDivisionDivisionThe acceptables The acceptables And unacceptablesAnd unacceptables

How does GodHow does GodFeel about you?Feel about you?

ImportantImportant

Affects how (or if)Affects how (or if)I approach GodI approach God

And the things of GodAnd the things of God

How does GodHow does GodFeel about you?Feel about you?

God did God did notnot send his Son into the send his Son into the world world to condemn to condemn the world, the world,

butbut in order that the world might in order that the world might be be savesaved through himd through him

- John 3:17- John 3:17

God is relentlessGod is relentlessIn seeking us outIn seeking us out

Because of his ferocious loveBecause of his ferocious loveFor each of usFor each of us

He's not looking to condemnHe's not looking to condemn

He's not looking to condemnHe's not looking to condemn

But there's still a SonBut there's still a SonWho dies on a crossWho dies on a cross

So it must be seriousSo it must be serious

It was a dark dayIt was a dark day

Worse than a hopeless ending-Worse than a hopeless ending-

It ended with a betrayalIt ended with a betrayalThat can't be fixedThat can't be fixed

What had happened…What had happened…

Jesus said, Jesus said, “Where I am going you cannot “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow me now, but you will follow afterward”follow afterward”

Peter said to him, “Lord, why can Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay I not follow you now? I will lay

down my life for you”down my life for you”

Jesus answered,Jesus answered,“Will you lay down your life for “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times” have denied me three times” - John 13- John 13

““Even if I must die with you, Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!”I will not deny you!”

- Peter, Matt. 26- Peter, Matt. 26

Frankenstein sceneFrankenstein scene

Rednecks at an Rednecks at an Uppercrust BonfireUppercrust Bonfire

Jesus Jesus who?who?

Jesus is being ledJesus is being ledFrom one house From one house

To anotherTo another

““Certainly this fellow was with Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean”him, for he is a Galilean”

Peter replied, “Man, I don’t Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking know what you’re talking about!” about!”

Just as he was speaking, the Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowedrooster crowed

The Lord turned and looked The Lord turned and looked straight at Peterstraight at Peter

Then Peter remembered the Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown today, you will disown me three times”me three times”

And he went outside and And he went outside and wept bitterlywept bitterly

The men who were guarding The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”Who hit you?”- Luke 22- Luke 22

FridayFridayUnable to do anythingUnable to do anything

Unworthy, FearfulUnworthy, FearfulHiding in the shadowsHiding in the shadows

Mocked, beatenMocked, beatenTurned over to the RomansTurned over to the Romans

ScourgedScourged

Forced to carry the crossbeamForced to carry the crossbeam

God is relentlessGod is relentlessIn seeking us outIn seeking us out

Because of his Because of his Ferocious loveFerocious loveFor each of usFor each of us

Father, forgive them…Father, forgive them…

Tetelestai!Tetelestai!

And it's SaturdayAnd it's SaturdayJesus is deadJesus is dead

And it can't be fixedAnd it can't be fixedNot just grief, but despairNot just grief, but despair

His last action:His last action:

Betrayed more than a teacherBetrayed more than a teacherBetrayed a friendBetrayed a friend

In his greatest hour of needIn his greatest hour of need

God is relentlessGod is relentlessIn seeking us outIn seeking us out

Because of his Because of his Ferocious loveFerocious loveFor each of usFor each of us

God did God did notnot send his Son into the send his Son into the world world to condemn to condemn the world, the world,

butbut in order that the world might in order that the world might be be savesaved through himd through him

- John 3:17- John 3:17

……in Christ, God was in Christ, God was reconciling reconciling the world to himself, the world to himself, not not counting their trespasses counting their trespasses against themagainst them- 2 Cor. 5- 2 Cor. 5

Jesus did Jesus did what we can't what we can't (And won't)(And won't)

Unwilling to:Unwilling to:- Accept the break- Accept the break

- Believe we can't fix it - Believe we can't fix it

There's a cost:There's a cost:

For Christ also For Christ also sufferedsuffered once for once for sins, the righteous for the sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might unrighteous, that he might bring usbring us to God - 1 Peter 3 to God - 1 Peter 3

God created unityGod created unitySin causes separationSin causes separation

God fixes the separationGod fixes the separationAt great cost and painAt great cost and pain

God's is relentlessGod's is relentlessIn seeking us outIn seeking us out

Because of his Because of his Ferocious loveFerocious loveFor each of usFor each of us

Sunday morning…Sunday morning…

At the tomb:At the tomb:

Go tell the Disciples- and Peter- Go tell the Disciples- and Peter- that he is going before you that he is going before you into Galileeinto Galilee- Mark 16- Mark 16

Elephants are Elephants are Sometimes invisibleSometimes invisible

But their presenceBut their presenceIs always feltIs always felt

Jesus is relentlessJesus is relentlessAnd ferociousAnd ferocious

In his loveIn his loveEsp. when we've sinnedEsp. when we've sinned

Against himAgainst him

Jesus shows upJesus shows upAt Peter's jobAt Peter's job

Time to deal with the elephantTime to deal with the elephant

When they had finished When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do Peter, “Simon, son of John, do

you you lovelove me more than these?” me more than these?”

He said to him, He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know “Yes, Lord; you know that I that I lovelove you” you”

Jesus said to him, Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs”“Feed my lambs”

He said to him a second time, He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, “Simon, son of John,

do you do you lovelove me?” me?”

He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I know that I lovelove you.” you.”

He said to him, He said to him, “Tend my sheep”“Tend my sheep”

He said to him the third time, He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you “Simon, son of John, do you lovelove me?” Peter was grieved because me?” Peter was grieved because

he said to him the third time, he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?”“Do you love me?”

……and Peter said to him, “Lord, and Peter said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know you know everything; you know that I that I lovelove you.” Jesus said to you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep”him, “Feed my sheep”

““Follow me”Follow me”

3 Times3 Times

Yes, you betrayed meYes, you betrayed meYes, you denied meYes, you denied meYes, you sinned against meYes, you sinned against me

But I want you with meBut I want you with meBecause my love for youBecause my love for youIs greater than your ability to Is greater than your ability to

Sin against itSin against it

Sin separatesSin separatesGod reconcilesGod reconciles

At his own initiation At his own initiation and expenseand expense

The cross is proof The cross is proof of God's Loveof God's Love

The resurrection is confirmationThe resurrection is confirmationThat's he's more than ableThat's he's more than ableTo handle whatever you're To handle whatever you're facingfacing

You are free in ChristYou are free in ChristTo be loved- To be loved-

Because sin has been dealt withBecause sin has been dealt withOn the crossOn the cross

And beaten by the resurrectionAnd beaten by the resurrection

God's is relentlessGod's is relentlessIn seeking you outIn seeking you out

Because of his Because of his Ferocious loveFerocious loveFor youFor you

Accept it- place your faithAccept it- place your faithWalk in it- be gratefulWalk in it- be grateful

Refuse guilt- not from GodRefuse guilt- not from GodKnow that you're forgivenKnow that you're forgiven now now