Jesus was the bridge

JESUS WAS THE BRIDGE
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Sermon: “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water” – John 14:1-14
O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the
longing of our hearts, by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we
form. Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.
What is troubling you this morning? We all have big stuff going on in our
minds right now no doubt. Some of us may be dealing with heavy emotional
things. Some of us may know someone closewho is sick. Some of us may for
whateverreasonbe feeling lonely or may know someone closewho is. Some of
us can barely face the day and may know someone closewho is struggling.
And then, we look out at our world. We appearto be surrounded by the
effects of Covid, acts of violence and the list canconstantly be added to.
What can possibly free our hearts from trouble, in the face of so much death,
so much evil?….. “Don’tbe troubled,” Jesus says.
“Don’t be troubled”? When has advice like that ever been helpful? “Don’tbe
afraid; don’t be nervous; don’t be anxious; don’t be shattered.” It’s almost
laughable, is it not?
The conversationbetweenJesus andHis disciples in today’s Gospelreading
takes us back to the Last Supper, on the night of Jesus’arrest, the day before
His horrible Crucifixion. Judas had already left to betray Jesus and Jesus is
telling His disciples that His time has come to leave this world and then he
says, “Don’tbe troubled.” Well, having heard this statement from Jesus who
wouldn’t be troubled???

Just before this, Peterhas said, “I’ll give up my life for you.” and Jesus’reply
was, “I assure you that you will deny me three times before the rooster
crows.” And then Jesus says again“Don’tbe troubled.”
The word Jesus uses here for “troubled” is used to describe “agitationand
disturbance in the face of the power of death and evil.”
When Jesus is crucified, it will look as if the devil has got his way. It will look
as if Jesus has been defeated. It will look as if evil has triumphed over good.
It will seemas if Jesus is gone forever.
But Jesus says, “Don’tbe troubled.” “Don’tlet the powerof death and evil
disturb you.”
But how could they not be disturbed? I am pretty sure that we would be
worried wouldn’t we? The world has a multitude of answers to this question
of do not be worried, which leave us just as troubled as before. But Jesus has
one answer, “Trustin God. Trust also in me.”
I wish to share with you a true story about trust….I had been trying to teach
my sonto swim. So on one occasionwhen we were on our holiday in Greece I
took the opportunity once againto try and teach him to swim.
“I had tried previously when he was younger but no matter what I did it was
hard work. Even when he was a baby he didn’t like getting water on his face
in the bathtub, much less than to him this massive oceanof a swimming pool
he was now staring at.
At first, ‘teaching him to swim’ meant getting him to splash around a bit on
the top step, and maybe putting his lips in the waterenough to blow bubbles if
he was feeling really brave.
But on this occasionI convincedhim to walk with me to the shallow end of
the pool, with his death-grip around my neck of course. Once we mastered
me standing in the shallow end and him hanging on to me, it was time for the
Big event—him jumping off the side. Fulfilling my God-given duty as a dad, I
lifted him out of the pool, stoodhim on the side, and said, ‘Come on, jump!’
‘Come on, son.’‘I’m right here. I’ll catchyou. I promise!’ He lookedat me,

did one or two of those little winding up moves, bouncing at the knees, and
then fell into the pool with what was more a flop than a jump. And I caught
him. After that we were off ‘Do it again, Dad! Do it ‘gain!’ And so
commencedhalf an hour of jump, catch, lift, wind up moves, Jump, catch, lift,
wind up moves.”
How many of you can relate to the trust that my son had in me? Perhaps for
you it was your mother, grandfather, or a true deep unconditional trust in a
friend.
No matter, when that personwas waiting to “catchyou,” and to support you,
you had no fear, you were no longer“troubled” by the thought of jumping
into the “proverbial pool of troubling water.”
But, sadly, whether the personyou trust or trusted was a father, mother,
spouse, friend or whoeverthose people are…theyare people–human, like you
and I. They will sadly not always be here.
What do we do when those in whom we once went to for support are no longer
able to support us? Where do we turn when things look bleak, and the power
of impending death and evil appearto have the upper hand?
Jesus says, “Don’tbe troubled.” “Don’t be nervous, anxious, shattered.” This
kind of talk is usually meaningless… unless, unless… itcomes from someone
we can really trust. Unless it comes from someone we know we can count on,
unless it comes from someone we know who loves us and will be present with
us during the storms of life.
I once shared some ideas I had from today’s John gospelwith someone a long
time ago when I was at theologicalcollegeand she said, “I have always found
these words from Jesus difficult to graspbecause it is such a big concept.”
“Don’t be troubled.” “Trust in God. Trust also in me,” says Jesus, “Don’tbe
troubled.”
When Jesus did go away – when Jesus was arrested – His disciples were very,
very troubled!!! They “scattered.” Peterdeniedeven knowing Him. They hid

behind lockeddoors in “fear.” Theywere “troubled” BIG TIME!!! Even
after Jesus was resurrected, they continued to be “troubled.”
For 40 days Jesus appearedto them againand againand again. And still, it
took time. They had to learn to trust in Jesus, they had to learn that no
matter what they were going through, no matter what happened to them in
life–Jesus was there for them–Jesus was their strength, like a bridge over
troubled water.
And like a bridge is to troubled waters, Jesuswas a bridge to the disciples and
is also to us a bridge to God–and is our way to God–to truth–to Life… and
this Life which comes by faith in Jesus is a dwelling place in the closenessof
God– not just for eternity, but right here and right now!!!
In verse 27 of John Chapter 14 Jesus says, “PeaceI leave with you. My peace
I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid.”
It took time for the disciples to learn that they could, indeed, “trust in Jesus.”
and it takes time for us as well.
The Apostle Paul had to endure lots of hardships, in order to be able to getto
the point where he was able to confidently write: “Who will separate us from
the love of Christ? But through his experiences of faith he learned that he
didn’t experience them alone?
And so he learnedto trust in Jesus and he was able to write: “in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am
convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, norrulers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything
else in all creationwill be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ
Jesus our Lord.”
Wow!!! That is powerful. That’s the most powerful stuff in the world!!!
A while ago a dear friend of mine left her job. Not long after she had left she
phoned me to saythat she had cancer. To saythat I was shockedwas an
understatement all I could saywas “Are you alright? How are you doing?”
Bit of a pathetic question now when I look back. But she sounded so joyful.
She laughed and said, “I’ve learned that what I’ve been believing in all these

years–Iactually believe!!!” “Whateverhappens, happens. And I’m fine with
it because I’m in the Lord.”
So I would like to leave you with these questions about trust and separation?
Are you convinced that nothing canseparate you from the love of God in
Christ Jesus ourLord?
“When you’re feeling weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes…” are
you convinced?….
“When times getrough, and friends just can’t be found” Are you
convinced?….
When you’re down and out, when everything feels so hard, when darkness
comes, and pain is all around. Are you convinced?
Whateveryou are going through this morning? Whateverit is that is
“troubling you?” Whateverit is, big or ‘seemingly’ small, Jesus says to you
and he says to me this morning and every morning “Trustin God. Trust also
in me.” Because nothing in all creationwill be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Amen
Revd Kevin Priestat St.Wilfrids and St.Thomas
Let us pray
Truly O Godyou are greatand greatlyto be praised. Through Christ Jesus
your Son you have shownyourself to us – for he is in you and you are in him.
Grant, therefore, dear Father, that we come to him, the living stone, rejected
by mortals, yet chosenand precious in your sight – and that like living stones,
we ourselves may be built into a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, your holy
people, the temple of your presence in our world…. Lord, in your mercy hear
our prayer.
We give thanks to You, O God, for in Christ Jesus you have conquered the
powerof death and enabled us to face our own death and the loss of those we
love with trust and confidence. Help us to live with joyful anticipation of

entering the heavenly places that he has prepared for us in your House, and to
show forth our hope in Him to all whom we meet before we gatherbefore
your throne in Glory… Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer…
Father, we pray for your church, the church of Christ Jesus your son. May
our life as your Holy People always be marked by faithful testimony in both
word and deed. Like Jesus, may we be known as people of prayer and service
– truth and love – and mercy and help – especiallyfor those who are in need –
those that our world rejects – those that without your Son in our lives, we
ourselves might turn awayfrom.
Lord, in your mercy hearour prayer.
Lord, we pray for people all over the world who long to see your Face and do
not know how to find you. May they see you in us – and us in you – through
the loving care you callus to show. We pray for the victims of neglectand of
oppression, for those scornedand mocked, for those who are overlookedby
the restof our world. May they be convinced that they are precious in your
sight and may their needs be met according to the abundance of your grace….
Lord, in your mercy hearour prayer.
We pray, O Lord, for our families and for our neighbours – and for all those
whom you have placed upon our hearts this day – those who grieve and those
who rejoice – those who struggle with conflict in their families and those
whose celebrate new birth – those who need work – and those who need a
specialhealing – or a sense ofpeace to come over them. Hear now these
prayers of thanksgiving and intercessionwe make for those we name them
before you at this time Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.
Loving God – do not let our hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Rather fill our lives in deeds of devotion and service and help us to follow
Jesus, the way, the truth, and life, with joy and peace – knowing that we are
safe forever with him, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God,
both now and forevermore.
Merciful Father acceptthese prayers in the name of your sonour saviour
Jesus Christ. Amen

And we sealall these prayers together in the prayer that Jesus taught his
disciples The Lords prayer……
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done; On earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass againstus.And
lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.Forthine is the kingdom,
the powerand the glory, For ever and ever. Amen
Study 6. Jesus - The Bridge BetweenGodAnd Man Series
Contributed by Eric Sellgrenon Feb 8, 2002
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Scripture: Luke 1:26-38
Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican
Summary: Many other people came to recognise thatJesus was Godin the
New Testament.
1 2 3
Next

Jesus didn`t just appear without warning. Before He was born there were
some who were told to expect Him. The Angel told His Mother that she should
call His Name Jesus, andthat that Name means "The Saviour". Jesus came to
us with a specialand divine purpose, the save men from themselves.
In the beginning God made man to be His friend, but man rejectedthat offer.
The smallestand most insignificant sin (the one we would hardly call a sin)
tells God, "I don`t want your friendship. I want to go MY way, not YOURS".
Yet God passionatelycries outto us to come to Him, because He loves us. He
loves us and wants us to experience the fullness of the way of life that He has
prepared for us. But Godand man became separatedby the wide gulf of
man`s creating.
How could reconciliationcome about? It could only come about when a man
said, "I am willing to obey you completely and perfectly" - and that is what
the Man, Jesus, said. At the same time, it could only come about when God
said, "I forgive you", and that is what Jesus came to proclaim. "God, in
Christ, was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting its sin againstit".
He said to men, "I offer you forgiveness, free and freely"....... The gulf
betweenmen and God was too wide for men to bridge it, so God came in
Christ to bridge the gulf.
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Now, for a bridge to be effective it has to rest on both sides of the chasm of
separation. Thatis why Jesus had to be totally Man and totally God. If He
wasn`t both Man AND God, the bridge wouldn`t have been complete. Because
Jesus Christ was totally and completely Man one end of the bridge reachedto
the MAN SIDE of the chasm- because He was totally and completelyGod, the
other end of the bridge reachedto the GOD SIDE of the chasm. It is only as a
man walks acrossthat bridge (the Way that Jesus openedup for us through
His death on the Cross), that he can come into fellowship with the Father.

That is the way the Scriptures setit out. This was to be God`s Way of
Reconciliation, God`s Wayof proclaiming His forgiving love. But, NOT THIS,
forgiving love can only effectivelybe revealedin PERSON,not by proxy.
Forgivenessonthe lips of a mere representative or messengercannever carry
conviction, and, because this message oflove could canonly be conveyedin
PERSON,Jesus hadto be PERSONALLY GOD. Do you see then that, right
at the beginning of the New Testament, Jesus is not only called "The Saviour"
(which He is, He is also given the Name "Emmanuel", which means "GOD
with us". (N.B. The Greek actually says, "THE God with us", showing that
Jesus was regardedas being part of the Godhead). God Himself had come to
earth to proclaim the message offorgiveness.
If this were just one isolatedstatement, we might dismiss it easilyas a mistake
(i.e. if we didn`t believe that Holy Scripture is divinely inspired), but right
through the New Testamentwe see men reacting to Jesus, almostinstinctively,
as they would reactto God.
1. They worshipped Him. When He was born shepherds came and worshipped
Him. Wise men came, and, going into the house they "saw the little child with
His MotherMary. And they fell on their knees and worshipped Him". There
was something in that child which causedthem to fall before Him, giving Him
that which is only right to give to God - the first acts of worship in a life that
grew to acceptworship as His right.
In Matthew ch 8 v 2 we are told that a leper knelt down before Him and
worshipped Him. In chapter 9 v 18 a certain ruler comes and worships Him.
It could be said that they were only greeting Him with common respect, and
this might well be so, although the wording is strongerthan that in the Greek.
The same could not be said, however, of the Disciples, who, when threatened
by death in the boat, were filled with awe when Jesus stilled the storm, and
worshipped Him saying, "You really are the Son of God".
The women who were confronted by the risen Jesus had no hesitationin
falling down, taking hold of His feet and worshipping Him (Matt. 28.9). Even
a madman could recognise the divinity in Christ (Mark 5.6). Isn`t it strange

that the mad and the sinful could recognise whatthe Jewishleaders
consistentlyrefused to accept!
Let us realise that, if Jesus was just a man, as the Jehovah`s Witnesses have
claimed, then the Jewishleaders had no argument with Jesus - certainly not
their consistentargument that He was blaspheming.
2. The Disciples recognisedHis Divinity. Yes, it is the Disciples themselves
who give the most convincing and conclusive proof that Jesus was God. When
Thomas is confronted by the RisenChrist, all his previous doubts fade from
his mind in the proclamation, "My Lord and my God". The J.W`s try to avoid
the clearsense ofthis declarationby saying that it was an expressionof
surprise, and that the first part ("My Lord") was addressedto Jesus, but the
second("My God")was addressedto the Father! But the Greek firmly shows
that the whole phrase was addressedto Jesus, forthe literal translation of this
phrase in Greek is: "Thomas saidto Him, The Lord OF ME, and the God OF
ME".
The Jehovah`s Witnessestry to deny that Jesus is God by translating the first
verse of St. John`s Gospelto read, "The Word was a god". They saythat if
John had really thought of Jesus as God, He would have put ho theos ("the
God") in the Greek. But here is John at the end of His Gospel(ch20 v 28)
doing just what the Witnesses say he doesn`t do. He is stating quite plainly
that Thomas said that Jesus was ho theos - "The God"! I also believe that
John, if he had thought that Thomas was mistakenin giving that title to Jesus,
would have said so. If Thomas was saying something in ch 20.28 whichJohn
was at pains to deny in ch 1 verse 1, then John would have made it quite plain
that he didn`t agree with Thomas`exclamation.
The J.W`s fundamentally misunderstand the theologicalpositionof Thomas,
and the remainder of the Disciples, and indeed, of Jesus Himself, if they think
that outbursts such as Thomas`s, andthe worship Jesus constantlyreceived,
could be explained by the fact that Jesus was just"a god" (which is what the
J.W`s sayof Him. Both Jesus and His Disciples were brought up as orthodox
Jews. The Law was of prime importance to them. Jesus said, "I have not come
to abolish the Law or the Prophets" - He did complete he Law, drawing from

it its deeper significance, and showedthe Law of love, but He held the Law as
sacred. He had grown up with it. It was written firmly on His heart, and on
the hearts of His Disciples. Jewswere monotheists - they believed in One God,
and that that One God had given as the first of His Commandments, "You
may worship no other gods but Me". Yet here was Jesus, a man who accepted
worship frequently, accepting tributes like the one Thomas had given Him,
without turning a hair.......... DidHe rebuke Thomas for his enthusiastic
outburst? Not in the least - exceptfor not having believed it earlier!
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Yet, if the J.W`s are right, and Jesus was not Godthen we have to come to the
unhappy conclusionthat His Disciples were more obedient to God than Jesus
was!Peter, for instance, refused to acceptworship from Cornelius (Acts
10.25):"Stand up. I am a man like anyone else", he says to the man who had
just fallen on his face before him. When Paul and Barnabas were at Lystra
and the crowds were calling them gods and prepared to sacrifice to them,
"they ripped their clothing in dismay...... shouting, `Men, what are you doing?
We are merely human beings like yourselves`".
The Disciples, the Apostles, refuse to acceptworshipor reverence of any kind,
yet we see Jesus accepting suchworship as normal. Either He is blaspheming
to acceptit by taking what God allows only to be given to Himself - or Jesus
has a right to such worship, because He IS GOD!
The Bridge to Authenticity.
Jerry underwood

Jesus is the Bridge to being real, we need to be real instead of keeping it real.
The Bridge
INTRODUCTION
Goodmorning Southpointe, We are in our three week now on the seasonof
Hope. Last week we talkedabout how God had been building bridges of hope
throughout history.
From Adam and Eve to Peter and Paul and to eachone of us today. And how
that we should be people who build bridges of hope because we are followerof
Christ.
But this morning I want to talk for a few minutes about the bridge to be real.
Now understand this God knows we are a mess and will continue to make a
mess.
HoweverJesus came and died on the cross in order to lead us into an
authentic relationship with Him.
This is what I know that Jesus Christ the Sonof the living God came to this
earth and became flesh and laid Himself down on the Cross and took my place
on the cross so that I would not have to suffer that death.
FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS
ETERNALLIFE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
We must come to the understanding that Christ build the bridge to eternal life
for us. And the goodnews is that Christ took our places and He took death
and He gave us life, and life more abundantly.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come
that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
That my friend is the GoodNews!! Jesus build the bridge for us to have
eternal life.

Here is a wonderful picture of what Jesus has done:
One time this preacherwas in the State of Texas and he saw something that he
just could not figure out. He was visiting a sheep ranch and saw something
that lookedlike a deformity to him. It lookedlike a little lamb with four front
feet, four back feet, and two heads.
He stood there marvelling at it. He said to the rancher, ‘Now there is a
deformity if I eversaw one. I sure can’t figure that out. What kind of a
monstrosity is that?’
He said, “One time he saw something in the State of Texas that he just could
not figure out. He was visiting a sheep ranch and saw something that looked
like a deformity to him. It lookedlike a little lamb with four front feet, four
back feet, and two heads. He stood there marvelling at it. He said to the
rancher, ‘Now there is a deformity if I eversaw one. I sure can’t figure that
out. What kind of a monstrosity is that?’
“The rancher laughed and said, ‘That isn’t a deformity at all. Actually,
preacher, that is one of the most wonderful things that ever happened on this,
ranch. Let me tell you about it.
“There was a ewe lamb that had a little baby and her baby died. There was
another ewe lamb that had a little baby and she died. We thought the thing to
do was to give the lamb with no mother to the mother who had no baby.
We put the little lamb with no mother in with the ewe that lost her baby and
she wouldn’t have a thing to do with it. She ducked her head, pushed it away
and wanted no part of it.
One of my men went out to where the little lamb was that had died, and
skinned it as best as he could. He brought it back and tied it around the little
baby lamb. We put it back with the mother whose baby died. She thinks that
little lamb is hers. She loves it, nurses it and is taking care of it.”
“Preachersaid, ‘I never saw a more wonderful picture of what Jesus had done
for me.’ ”

You take any man or woman and put them in the holy presence ofan
Almighty God, clothed in their own righteousness andno matter how good
they are, God Almighty will say, “Out of my presence.”
But, thank God, the Bible says that Jesus, to the believer, has been made our
righteousness.
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that
we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 COR. 5:21
If you are saved, you are clothed in the spotless righteousnessofJesus Christ
and you are just as cleanin the sight of God as if you had never committed a
sin.
If you are saved, you are clothed in the spotless righteousnessofJesus Christ
and you are just as cleanin the sight of God as if you had never committed a
sin. When God looks from Heaven, He sees me clothed in the righteousness of
the Sonof God.
Can you sayamen to that: But the problem we have is accepting the factthat
God knows we are a mess.
And we try to put on a mask, in other words we become a religious hypocrite.
The greatpretender.
Song greatpretender by the platters
So many people today are the greatpretender instead living the life for God,
we pretend too.
"Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was
a despisedtax collector.
The Pharisee stoodby himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank You, God, that
I am not a sinner like everyone else. ForI don't cheat, I don't sin, and I don't
commit adultery. I'm certainly not like that tax collector!
I fast twice a week, andI give You a tenth of my income.'

"But the tax collectorstoodat a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to
heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beathis chestin sorrow, saying, 'O God, be
merciful to me, for I am a sinner.'
I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God.
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble
themselves will be exalted."
Crossing The Bridge - John14:1-6
Sermonof the Week
John14:1-6 (NIV)
"Crossing The Bridge"
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also inMe. 2 In
My Father’s house are many mansions; ifit were not so, Iwouldhave told you.
I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place foryou, I will
come againandreceive youto Myself; thatwhere I am, there you may be also. 4
And where I go you know, andthe wayyou know.” 5 Thomassaidto Him,
“Lord, we do not know where You are going, andhow canwe know the way?”
6 Jesus saidto him, “Iam the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Fatherexceptthrough Me.
MessageIntroduction
To cross a bridge we must have a destinationthat is separatedbysomething
and a desire to getthere. Manis separatedfromGOD because ofsin, andthe

only wayback to GOD’s Love is to cross The Bridge. JESUS is letting HIS
disciples know “Notto be weary, because HE willprovide the bridge to The
Father’s House. So ourfirstof four questions todayis “Who needs The Bridge?
“
1. Who Needs The Bridge
Romans 3:23, “allhave sinnedand fall shortof the gloryof GOD”.
1. This is to the Jews andthe Gentiles! Sinseparates“ALL” ofus from GOD
and we “ALL” fall short ofGOD’s glory.
a) Notice, the scripture does notsay“fallen”, becausethatwouldindicate we
use to fall, but now we gotit right. It says we “fall”, whichmeans, we will
continue to fall short. Infact, evenas Christians, we neverstopfalling short.
However, withCHRIST we fallin GRACE andgetback up thru MERCY.
Grace is getting whatyou don’t deserve and Mercyis not getting what you do
deserve! That’s how GOD’s GraceandMercyworks.
The movie “ToyStory” has a characternamedBuzz Lightyear. He is a toy
space hero thatthought he was realand couldfly. Butthrough a series of
events, he finds out that everything he thought was realkeptfailing him. He
beganto realize that he was in factjust a toy and he couldn’t reallyfly. Bythe
end of the movie, his attitude had changed. BuzzLightyearrealized“he could
not fly, but he did fall gracefully!” We allfall! Notone ofus canwalk out the
front door and fly off. Butwe allcanfall on GOD’s Grace andgetback up
thru HIS Mercy.
2. Why Do We NeedThe Bridge
1. Because, itis not a matter ofIF you fall, but WHEN you fall, GOD’s Grace
and Mercywill not leave us hanging!
2. The Bridge is the only wayback to GOD’s Love. WithoutThe Bridge, we all
would be condemnedin our sins and foreverseparatedfromGOD. ButGOD

did not wantHIS relationshipwith us to end, and therefore, GOD didnot send
HIS Soninto the world to condemnthe world, but that the world through HIM
might be saved. (John3:17)
a) Insteadofsending HIS angerdown, GOD sentHIS Mercydown!
b) Insteadof sending the Angle ofDeathdown, HE sentthe Sacrificial Lamb
down!
c) Insteadofsending HIS Wrath down, GOD sentHIS Love down!
3. The wagesofsinis death, but the gift of GOD is eternallife in Christ Jesus
our Lord. (Romans 6:23). The Bridge provides the wayfor our debt to be paid.
In otherwords, “The Bridge Paidthe Way” forus to experience GOD’s Love.
4. Romans 5:8, says “ButGOD demonstrates HIS ownlove for us, in that while
we were stillsinners, Christdied for us.” Notice, the scripture says “HIS own
Love!”
a) GOD doesn’tdemonstrate a borrowedlove, but HE demonstrates HIS own
love for us. Whenourchildren mess up and make mistakes, we cannotexpect
the school teacher, the police officer, orthe judge to demonstrate love to them.
We cannotlet drugs, alcohol, orsexdemonstrate love to them. We as the
parents … must demonstrate ourownlove to them in the same wayGOD
demonstrates HIS ownLove to us.
b) GOD alreadyknows we are going to make mistakesandfallshort, but HE
doesn’tleave us to someone elseuntil we getit right! GOD demonstrates HIS
ownlove for us, and sentHIS own SON to the cross. GOD couldhave prepared
any of HIS prophets orrighteous servants to hang on the cross forour sins, but
the mere fact that HE sentHIS SON, truly demonstrates HIS AGAPE love for
us. ForGOD so lovedthe worldthat HE gave HIS only begottenSON, that
whoeverbelieves inHIM should not perish but have everlasting life. (John
3:16) ForGOD so lovedthe world, HE provided “The Bridge!” I’m sure we all
know the answerto the next question of “Who is the Bridge?”

3. Who Is The Bridge
In John14:6, JESUS Says“IamThe Way, The Truth, and The Life. No one
comes to the FATHER exceptthrough ME.”
a) Notice JESUS doesnotuse the words “a way/a truth/a life”. HE uses the
word “the”.
If I askedthe question“Do youknow where a white house is?” Mostlikelyyou
would know ofseveral houses thatare white, andbasedonyour ownopinion,
those are the houses you wouldtell me about. Butif I ask you“Do youknow
where the white house is?” the answerwouldbe “In WashingtonD.C.”
b) We cannotlook fora wayto GOD. We mustacceptThe Wayto GOD,
because JESUS is the only one who canpay our debt. Any other waywill leave
us to paying our own debt. Whenwe eatoutat a restaurant, it’s hard enough
for me to pay that bill, so I know that I cannotpay my ownbill for my sins!
We all needThe Bridge and we know that JESUS is The Bridge, but some ofus
are still left with the final questionof “How Do We Cross The Bridge”
4. How Do We Cross The Bridge
Remember, to cross The Bridge we musthave a destination that is separatedby
something and a desire to getto that destination. Some ofus have accepted
JESUS andspiritually stand there on The Bridge. Some ofus willcome to
church and literally sit on The Bridge.
1. We must first acknowledge the factthatwe cannotbuild our own Bridge.
JESUS said“No one cancome to the FATHER exceptthru ME”
a) Ephesians 2:8-9whichsays “Forbygrace youare savedthrough faith, and
this is not ofyourselves, itis the gift ofGOD; itis not ofworks, so thatno one
canboast.” We cannotjump from our sinful nature straight into GOD’s Love
on our own. No one canbuy or work their wayinto salvation. Fromthe womb,
no one is born with the right to GOD’s kingdom; itis only by the birth through

salvation, we caninheritthe kingdom ofGOD. Therefore no one canboast
about whatthey are doing to getinto heaven.
b) No one cancome up with their ownfaith system. Faithis a gift of GOD. All
we have to do is ask forit. Whenwe ask GOD forthe gift of faith, we declare
that we cannotdo it on our own, andwe depend on HIM to provide. We cannot
cross The Bridge onourown!
c) Ifwe are just standing or sitting on The Bridge, becausewe don’tknow how
to getacross, we mustsurrenderto GOD’s HolySpirit. We getto “GOD the
Father” through “GOD the SON”, butwe MUST allow “GOD the HOLY
SPIRIT” to work inour life!
c) Allow the Holy Spirit to be your TeacherandCounselor
2. GOD is ourdestination, JESUS is The Bridge, andthe HOLY SPIRIT is the
strengthand courage to getus across. ForGOD has notgivenus a spirit of
fear, but of power, andoflove and of a sound mind (2 Timothy1:7). The Holy
Spirit is our navigationsystemthat neverfails, andHE is always recalibrating
our lives back to GOD.
3. If we try to cross overonour own, we will
a) Constantlylook downatour old sins, feelwearyonourjourney, and even
wantto turn around and go back to our oldways!
4. Butwith the HOLY SPIRIT as ourteacherandcounselor, itwill be very
clear.
a) We willstill want to look down, but the Holy Spirit will say“Look to the
FATHER!”
b) We willfeelwearyfrom time to time, but the Holy Spirit will say“Keep
your eyes onyour
SAVIOR!”
c) We willevenwant to turn around because discouragement, butthe Holy
Spirit will tell us that

“The LORD willneverleave us nor forsake us”!(Deuteronomy31:8)
MessageConclusion
1. All of us need The Bridge because ofoursinful nature.
2. We needThe Bridge, because we cannotpayour owndebt.
3. JESUS ensuredhis disciples andus that HE would be The Bridge to the
FATHER’s House.
4. We must understand that we cannotgetto GOD’s Love without GOD’s Holy
Spirit guiding us.
Invitation
Many ofus may have takenthe first steptowards the bridge, but hesitate to
acceptHIM as the only way! GOD's flawlessplanofsalvationis available.
You don't have to keepsearching fora wayanymore. Letthis be the day that
you acceptTHE Way. Getinto a perfectrelationship with “GOD the Father”
through “GOD the SON”, andallow “GODthe HOLY SPIRIT” to work in our
life! The Holy Spirit is willing and able to leadyou to CHRIST, so thatyou
may be in relationshipwith GOD. Ifyouwant to cross the bridge, justconfess
with your mouth that "JESUS is LORD,"andbelieve in your heart that GOD
raisedhim from the dead and you will be saved. I am not making this up, read
Romans 10:9-10! It doesn'tmatter whatyou have beendoing in the past. If
you confess andbelieve youwill be saved, andyou will be crossing the bridge!
Prayer

LORD, we thank YOU for the flawless planofsalvation! We thank YOUfor
YOUR grace andmercy! Helpus to walk by faith and not by sight! Keepus on
the straightroad. Blessthosewho believe andhave acceptedThe Bridge . . .
The Way . . . The Truth . . . And The Life! If there is someone who is struggling
with this message, pleaseleadthemto a healthy worship service, so thatthey
may receive YOUR Truth! There is none like YOU, and we praise YOU for
choosing us! InJESUS name we pray, Amen!
As always, wepraythat you find a church home to be active in! Be a part of
your community as youglorify GOD! Evenifyou are currently deployed . . .
GOD has you there for a reason! ShareHIS Word. Ifyou are lying in a
hospital bed . . . GOD has you there for a reason! Share HIS Word. Evento the
sick . . . letthe name ofJESUS come from your lips as you share HIS Gospel
from your heart! Ifyou have any questions pertaining to the sermon, please
feelfree to emailus, orspeak to your localpastor, andalways askGOD for
clarification!
Rejoice InHIS Blessings Today
The Bridge at Sychar
Sermon
John4:5-42
Third Sunday in Lent - A
David O. Bales

To The Cross andBeyond
Cycle A GospelSermons forLent and Easter
A greatdealofthe Bible is quite understandable by itself. To graspmuchof the
Bible we don't needtons ofbackground, familiarity with ancientlanguages, or
an advanceddegree inarchaeology. Thenwe approachotherpassages where
we needthe collective wisdomfrom the church's scholars to openup the fuller
meaning.
We're atsuch a place today. Johnchapter4 speaks muchlouder ofGod's grace
when we review some backgroundinformation. First, the history betweenthe
Jews andSamaritans was vicious, withgrievous wrongs having been
committed by both groups. Second, this textis full ofpuns that aren't obvious
in anEnglish translation. Consequently, reading Englishwe don'tunderstand
why the womandoesn'timmediately catchthe drift ofJesus' words. Third, we
needto know -- withouttoo many gorydetails -- thatnearly everyone at
Jesus'time couldofferhalf a dozenreasons whyhe shouldn't be talking to this
woman.
When we delve into the customs ofthe day, we find that her coming to draw
wateratnoon is a giveawaythatshe's a socialoutcast. Womendrew the water
but certainly not atnoon in the heatof the day. She's a Samaritanwoman
who's anoutcastofthe Samaritanvillage, yetthe Samaritans as a whole are
outcasts fromthe Jews. So, we've gotone ethnic community (the Jews) that
throws out whatit considers its human garbage (the Samaritans) andthat
community then points to one of the lowestpeople ontheir social register: this
woman.
Jesus'conversationwiththe womanis scandalous. We catcha glimpse ofthis
opinion when Jesus'students return and the scripture says, "Theywere
astonishedthathe was speaking witha woman" (v. 27).

Jesus reaches outto a personwho's leastvaluedin her community. A friend of
mine used to saythat if Jesus came to ourtowntoday, he'd be driving a beat-
up, old pick-uptruck and the first place he'dgo is the tavern. It's Jesus'style as
we readthe gospels. You'dcertainlynever guess thatby looking atwhat's
become ofhis church. Don'twe all look nice andproper? Jesus, however,
reaches outto everyone, notjustby whathe says, butliterally by what he does.
This isn't just Jesus' style. It's also the maintheme of the Bible. We don'twork
our wayto Godby being good, studying religion, orevenseekingGod. No
matter how we view it from our perspective, the Bible tells the true story: God
searchesforus. Inthe Bible Godalways reachesoutto us first. Godtakes the
initiative. So, here ata wellin Samaria Jesus isn'tjustcrossing ethnic, religious,
moral, oreven sexualboundaries. ThroughJesus Godis reaching outacross all
eternity.
The city of Istanbul, Turkey, sits ontwo continents: Asia andEurope. In 1973,
the first Bosphorus Bridge linkedthe two halves of the city, connecting the two
continents permanently for the first time in history. Think of Jesus as thatkind
of bridge, spanning from eternity to time, from heavento earth, from God to
us. ThroughJesus Godis reaching outto humanity, bridging the gapbetween
us. Jesus sits downoutside the ancientvillage ofSychar, but where he meets the
womanisn't just a well. It's a bridge.
The womandoesn'tunderstand what's going onuntil later. Jesus' students also
don't catchthe meaning ofthe encounter. We, however, have the entire gospel
of Johnand the restof the New Testamentto helpevaluate the significance of
Jesus'meeting witha Samaritan. God's offerto humanity is wrappedup in
Jesus'conversationwiththis womanon heaven's bridge.

Notice how Jesus links us to God. Jesus focusesonlyupon the personhe talks
with. Even in a crowdJesus canaimhis attention to one personat a time. He's
never just doing something in general orfor symbolic effect. He's genuinely
and specificallyrelating to this one woman whomothers, evenofher own
outcastethnic group, don't respect.
In this case, Jesusmakescontactwitha request, "Give me a drink" (v. 7). Then
they chat aboutwater, wells, springs, andworship, whichwas prettynatural
stuff at the time. The more arid the regionthe more important wateris. Plus, as
stilted orartificial as the discussionaboutwaterseems, we know fromthe Dead
Sea Scrolls thatotherpeople atthe time spoke insuchsymbols aboutworship
and God.
Jesus asksfora drink. He's not afraid ofher or her sin. She's important enough
to give him a drink and to engage ina conversationaboutlife's ultimate
concerns. We canputourselves in her place andrealize that onthe receiving
end of a conversationwithJesus, yes, we recognize oursinfulness, as doesPeter
when Jesus inthe boatwith him tells him to letdown his nets for a catch. A
whole night alreadyfishing and they've caughtnothing, but obeying Jesus, they
catchso much the boatstarts to sink. WhenPeterfigures out what's going on
he falls on his knees andsays, "Go awayfromme, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
(Luke 5:8).
An uncomfortable awarenessofoursin is one response to meeting Jesus. Yet,
that's neverthe lastthing we realize. Jesus, aswithPeterandhere with the
woman, goesbeyondoursinfulness to our essential value withGod. Jesus
wouldn't be here if Goddidn't love us. Thatis what's mostimportant to
understand because whenit finally sinks into us that Godloves us, we notonly
change ourminds about Godbut about ourselves.

JohnCalvin was a forebearofour Presbyterianapproachto the Bible and the
Christian faith. Basicallyhe saidin his gigantic Institutes of the Christian
Religionthat ofall there is to know aboutlife, the mostimportant are 1) to
know aboutGod and 2) to know aboutourselves. Learning thatGodis our
creatormeans thatwe aren't a speck ofdust free floating in a meaningless
universe. Learning, as does the Samaritanwoman, thatJesusis God's emissary
of eternallife restores us to ourtrue place as creatures grantedthe very image
of Godupon us.
A few people think too much ofthemselves, andthey're certainly irritating to
be around. But mostof us think too little of ourselves andthe rottenthings we
do to ourselves andothers is because we think so poorlyofourselves. Adolph
Eichmann was anexample in Germany. He losta job as anoil salesmaninthe
Depressionandfailedas a vacuum cleanersalesman. Finallyhe linked up with
the GermanSS and eventually headedthe Nazi effortto find and murder
Europe's Jews. As a failure he settledforbeing a servile bureaucrat who,
though having nothing personallyagainst Jews, performeda jobthat diluted
his sense ofrightand wrong and endedin mass executions thatslaughtered
millions.
It's when we feellike horrible losers thatwe actlike horrible losers. Christians
don't have to become like the ultra secularists who worshipself-esteem. Yet, we
must realize that humans needa sense ofdignity. We're createdwithit, and
without it we feel, ifnot act, like we andothers are without value.
Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walkertells that, whenshe was eight, she
was shotin the eye with a BB gun and that eye was blinded. Besides being blind,
the injury causeda permanent, messyscarinher eye. She instantlywent from
being a bright, happy child to a miserable one, tauntedby otherchildren and
feeling wretched. Forthe next sixyears, she says, she didn't look anyone in the
eye because she neverraisedherhead. She hatedher eye, andwhenshe was

alone she ranted atit. She carried this inferior feeling all her life -- a damaged
eye that sometimes rolledwithout her control. She regainedsome ofherpoise
when surgeryatfourteen removedmost ofthe eye's ugly scar. Butinside she
wasn'thealed.
When she gave birth to a daughter, she wonderedwhatwouldhappen when the
child realized her mother's eye was different. When the child was almostthree,
she regularly watchedthe televisionshow "Big Blue Marble,"namedforwhat
the earthlookedlike from the moon. One day whenputting her daughter to
sleep, herdaughterfocusedonher blind eye. Alice Walkerwrote thatshe felt it
coming, thatsomedayher child would realize her mother's eye was different
and would saysomething hurtful to her. Instead, herdaughtersaidin
amazement, "Mommy, there's a worldin your eye," andshe askedhow itgot
there.1
It took someonewho lovedAlice Walkercompletely, unconditionally, to see a
wonderful world where others saw onlyinjury ordisability, someone who
acceptedheras she was andthought she was beautiful. Notallof Walker's
problems were settledthere, buta whole bunch were.
Jesus arrives acrossthe bridge from heavento meet the Samaritanwomanat
the well. He expressesto herGod's unconditional regard, God's ultimate
concernforher. Sure, she firstfeels the sting of her sin, but that passes when
Jesus won'tgive up on her. The woman, as do we all, needs to know aboutGod
and about herself. It's as thoughJesus says, "You're so importantthat God
sentme to you." Notallofher problems are solvedthat moment, but a whole
bunch are. She heads offto the village to share her imperfect understanding of
Jesus, andshe's notonly on the wayto town, she's onthe wayto recoveryas
God's belovedcreature.

That's whathappens whenJesus shows up, meeting us ata well, atwork, ata
party, or a picnic -- evenencountering us in worship! Yes, righthere and right
now Jesus shows upin worshipso that our meeting him here is anexperience of
spirit and truth. Here he totally centers upon us, gives us God's entire attention.
When you talk face-to-facewithJesus, you're inthe conversationofa lifetime
and beyond. When you talk with Jesus, no one is more important atthat
moment than you. We don't have to cowerbecauseJesus seesoursins. He's
more willing to forgive our sins than we are to confess them. He'llstartthe
conversationwithus. He'll evensummon us to come to him when we don't
quite know what's going on. No matterhow tired he is, he says, "Cometo me,
all you that are wearyand are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest" (Matthew 11:28).
I like the sign outside the chiropractor's office thatsays, "Crawl-ins welcome."
That's Jesus. He wants us to come to him no matter what we feellike and no
matter how we feelabout ourselves. He's crosseda greatbridge to getto us.
Now, no matterwhatcircumstances ittakes to getus in a conversation, no
matter whatothers think ofus, Jesus sits here looking atus, loving us, and
listening to us. He hears our pains and sees ourproblems, problems maybe
we've had since we were eight, or18, or28. Buthe sees beyondthem. He gazes
into our souland glimpses this wonderful child Godcreated, able to enjoythe
world and love others, andable to contribute to life and spreadGod's good
news. And here's the best: Because Jesusloves us, whathe seesinus is what
really counts, andwhat-- in his love -- we become.
Now we build bridges from Jesus to others. We, like the Samaritanwoman,
spreadthe wordabout Jesus withwhateverunderstanding we have of him. We
now gaze into the faces ofourfamilies and friends, our neighbors and
acquaintances, andsee the veryimage of Godwaiting for the love of Jesus,
awaiting the word about Jesus. That's whyJesus crossedthe bridge from

heavento earth: to link us with God, to forgive us, andto love us into the people
Godcreatedus to be. He's now working through us to restore this big, blue
marble of earthto a world of friendship and peace. As we live for Jesus here,
we realize that we are taking the first steps with him back acrossthe bridge to
heaven.
Communion
It's not just that God reaches outto us first. Godreaches outto us always --
now through the Holy Spirit. Here atour Lord's table Jesus againreachesto us
and hands us God's love in the form ofhis body brokenfor us and his blood
poured out for us. Those who eathere willneverbe hungry. Those who drink
here will never be thirsty. Amen.
__________
1. Alice Walker, "Beauty: Whenthe OtherDancerIs the Self," reprintedin
Comley, etal, Fields ofWriting: Readings acrossthe Disciples, FourthEdition
(New York: St. Martin's Press, 1994),pp. 46-52.
Jesus Christ is The Bridge
Jesus, being perfect in all aspects, bridged the gap betweenGod and man, by
becoming the only God-Man– completely divine, yet completely human at the
same time. He is the King of kings, yet also the servant of us all. He is our
saviorand redeemer, one that understands our weaknessesandinfirmities.

There had to be a way to bridge the gap, to SAVE mankind from eternal
separationfrom God. Jesus Christ is that bridge.
When I was a child, I lived in what was known locallyas “the forks of the
river”. In order to go into town, we had to travel a dirt road and cross the
river over an iron bridge. As progress came, the road was eventually paved
and a concrete bridge built, replacing the outdated iron bridge. Now, in the
twenty-first century, anotherbridge has been built beside the first one, and
there are now four lanes of traffic crossing the river at this point.
I am often reminded of our need for bridges to connectus with other areas.
Unless these bridges have strong foundations, they will not support the traffic
that passes overthem. In the same way, we need to build our lives on the
foundation of Christ, that we may be strong enough to support the loads we
are askedto carry and to stay connectedwith the source.
John 14:6 – Jesus answered, “Iam the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father exceptthrough me.”
Just as there was no way for me as a child to getout of my “forks in the river”
exceptto cross the iron bridge, there is no way for us today to find eternal life
exceptthrough Jesus Christ. He is our only link to eternity.
Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the bridge to everlasting life!
Prayer: Lord, help us to understand that there are no other roads leading to
eternal life except the one You created. Amen.
Readmore at Jesus ChristIs The Bridge
http://www.turnbacktogod.com/jesus-christ-is-the-bridge/#ixzz6PCCNblVg
What the Bible says about Christ as Bridge BetweenGodand Us

(From Forerunner Commentary)
Leviticus 1:9
Regarding the priest washing the parts with water, Ephesians 5:26
immediately comes to mind. Paul teaches thatwe—the offering as well as the
offerer—are washedby the waterof God's Word. However, the emphasis in
Leviticus 1:5-17 is primarily on the operations of the priest. We begin to see
Christ's intercessorywork in this imagery, indicating that everyone,
regardless ofhis seeming capabilities, needs the outside help of our High
Priest.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Two):The Burnt Offering
RelatedTopics:Christ as Bridge BetweenGodand Us | Christ as High Priest|
Function of Priest | Offering, Burnt | Word of God
John 15:4-5
Jesus Christ is our Mediator(I Timothy 2:5), the connection, the bridge,
betweenGod and us. Spiritual enablement flows from God through Him to us.
God's power and God's faithfulness are the issues that are of supreme
importance to us in these critical times. Are we constantlycognizant of the
fact that our salvation lies in His hands? He has the powerto save.
Notice how David expressedthis in a psalm written during a time of serious
trouble for him: "Forlook, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty gather
againstme, not for my transgressionnor for my sin, O LORD" (Psalm 59:3).
David feared the threat of murder in a situation in which he was innocent.

Verses 9-10 carry his thoughts further: "I will wait for You, O You his
Strength; for God is my defense. My God of mercy shall come to meet me;
God shall let me see my desire on my enemies." Here, David's confidence rises
because he believes in God's awareness andstrength - which is strong enough
to put down nations, let alone a small band of enemies. He also recalls God's
mercy toward those who serve Him.
Verses 16-17 show that his thoughts extend one step further: "But I will sing
of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You
have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my
Strength, I will sing praises;for God is my defense, the God of my mercy."
These final two verses summarize why he trusts God, and conclude in a strong
affirmation of David's faith. He trusts Godbecause of the combination of
God's strengths, His power, combined with His mercy and His will to use
them in behalf of those who trust Him.
John W. Ritenbaugh
PowerBelongs to God (Part One)
RelatedTopics:Calamity | Calculating | Calendar, Civil | Called According to
God's Purpose | Christ as Bridge BetweenGodand Us | Christ as Mediator |
Confidence | Confidence in God | God's Involvement | God's Strength |
Mediator| Mediator, Christ as
1 Peter4:1-6

The apostle is speaking aboutthe efficacyof Christ's suffering and death in
making possible a relationship betweenGod and human beings. His
conclusion, beginning in I Peter4:1-2, is that, since Christ suffered so much to
bring this about, Christians should respond by "ceas[ing]from sin" and living
"for the will of God."
This means, of course, that in doing so, we no longerlive as we used to, like
the "Gentiles,"like the world (verse 3). Seeing this, our friends who are still in
the world wonder why our lives have changedso drastically, and they are
likely to malign us for it (verse 4). But we need not worry because God, the
just Judge, will bring them into accountfor their abuses of us (verse 5). In
verse 6, he winds up his discussionby providing a generalexample to give us
hope in this regard. He explains that the gospelhad been preachedin the past
to people who are now dead, and even though their contemporaries may have
judged them worthy to suffer persecutionand death, God, conversely, has
judged them worthy of eternallife. He implies that God would do the same for
us.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Jesus and 'the Spirits in Prison'
Jesus the Bridge Builder
February 13, 2012 Mari-Anna Stålnacke @flowingfaith
Comments
4 Comments

One of the most important questions in life is: Who is Jesus to you? The
answerto that question shapes our life and destiny like no other. Christians
believe that Jesus is the son of God, our Lord and Savior.
There is one God and one mediator betweenGod and humanity, the human
Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a payment to setall people free. (1 Tim. 2:
5-6, CEB)
We find freedom in Jesus. There’s nothing better in life than being freed from
our transgressions.Thatmoment when the burdens are lifted from your
shoulders! Priceless!The only way to experience that freedom is to castour
sins on Jesus.
The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son,
without explicit confirmation by God. But then God intervened and called this
new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise:
God gave his word;
he won’t take it back:
“You’re the permanent priest.”
This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way betweenus and God—one
that really works!A new covenant. Earlierthere were a lot of priests, for they
died and had to be replaced. But Jesus’priesthoodis permanent. He’s there
from now to eternity to save everyone who comes to God through him, always
on the job to speak up for them. (Hebrews 7: 20-25, MSG, emphasis added)
Did you know that the word for “priest” in Latin is pontifex which means
“bridge builder”? Jesus is the bridge builder from humans to God. If we want
to get to God, we must cross overthe bridge Jesus has built. There’s no other
bridge overthe the troubled waters of trespassesand transgressions that
separate us from God. We canonly get safelyto the other side by grace
through faith in Jesus. But this bridge is a strong and mighty fortress.
So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy,
uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God’s presence in
heaven itself. Unlike the other high priests, he doesn’t have to offer sacrifices

for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins. He’s
done it, once and for all: offeredup himself as the sacrifice. The law appoints
as high priests men who are never able to getthe job done right. But this
intervening command of God, which came later, appoints the Son, who is
absolutely, eternally perfect. (Hebrews 7: 26-28, MSG, emphasis added)
Jesus offeredup himself as the sacrifice for once and for all. Jesus is the
bridge builder that makes it possible for eachand everyone of us to be united
with God and bask in his loving presence. Jesusis the way, the truth, and the
life. Jesus is the key to eternal life.
The bridge is ready. We just need to be willing to use it. If you have a need for
pardon, an urge to commune with God and bask in his grace, don’t waste
another minute. Let the other people bask on the bank if they insist. But you,
don’t delay. Cross the bridge. God is waiting.
Gracious God,
Thank you for sending Jesus to save us.
We are humbled that you love us so much.
We truly can’s save ourselves.
Forgive our sins in Jesus’name.
Enable us to live according to your will.
Send your Holy Spirit to lead us home to you.
In Jesus’name,
Amen
Q4U: Who is Jesus to you?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you embrace God’s saving grace eachand
every day of your life!
Giving thanks today for

#101 Jesus the bridge builder
#102 The ready-made bridge back to God
#103 The permanent priesthoodof Jesus
#104 The joy of salvation
#105 grandparents
#106 freedomin Christ
#107 life after death
#108 life after winter
#109 the Bible
#110 Goddoes not waste anything
Building Bridges!
I Corinthians 9:16-23
There are many different kinds of bridges in this world. Some are wooden,
some are stone, and others are fabricated of steel. Some are small some are
massive, but they all function basicallythe same way. They span a chasm.
They make it possible for someone to pass from point 'A' on one side of the
chasm to point 'B' on the other side.
In my travels around our greatcountry, I have come to appreciate and at
times have been absolutely amazed with some of the bridges I have found. The
planning, expense, and greateffort that went into the constructionof these
bridges boggles my mind. And yet they were constructed…theywere
built…why? The builders were motivated by the need! Let me apply this to
our ministry here at Grace BaptistTemple. In our community there are

people all around us who are on the other side of the chasm. They need a
bridge to cross over.
I. Who Needs a Bridge
A. The lostneed a bridge.
1. This is perhaps the easiestforus to understand.
2. We know that the Bible declares that we all have fallen short of the glory of
God. Ro. 3:23
3. We also understand the Scripture teaches that the lost have been blinded to
the truth of God's Word.
2Co 4:3-4 But if our gospelbe hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lestthe
light of the glorious gospelofChrist, who is the image of God, should shine
unto them.
B. The disconnectedbelieverneeds a bridge.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved
you.
1. There are many reasons why a believer might be disconnectedfor a local
church.
2. Perhaps they have made a geographicalmove and have been slow about
finding a new church.
3. Perhaps there are those who have come to a knowledge ofChrist, but have
never been taught the importance of the localchurch in their lives.
4. Regardlessofthe reason, they are disconnectedand need a bridge to cross
over.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciledus to himself by
Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
C. The hurting church member needs a bridge.

Heb 10:24-25 And let us considerone another to provoke unto love and to
goodworks:Notforsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye
see the day approaching.
1. We live in the real world, not a fantasyland.
2. In the realworld, people gethurt (whether intentional or not)
3. Sometimes that hurt keeps them from moving forward…
4. That hurt becomes a chasmthat must be crossed.
5. They need a bridge to help them getover it and geton with their life of
service to Christ.
Ro 12:10 Be kindly affectionedone to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another;
II. The Call to be Bridge Builders.
A. Our motivation = recognitionof the need.
Pr 29:18a "Where there is no vision, the people perish:"
1. If we don't see the need, we will never build bridges!
2. We may wind up building barriers instead.
3. If the gospelis real, then the gulf is real!
4. There is a greatgulf betweendarkness and light…betweeneternal life and
eternal death.
5. There is a greatgulf betweenfulfilling our God-given purpose as believers,
and just existing.
6. Betweenhaving life and having it more abundantly!
B. ConsiderPaul's motivation. Cf. 1 Co. 9:16-23
1. "…Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel."

2. Paul saw the need…and was moved to action.
3. That is the definition of compassion.
4. Compassiondidn't begin with the Apostle Paul, it was demonstratedto us
by God in giving His SonJesus.
5. It was demonstratedin the life of Jesus in His giving of Himself as a
sacrifice for our sin.
6. Compassionwill move us to be bridge builders; and the lack thereofwill
result in our doing nothing!
C. Our ability is our availability.
1. We are reminded that we cando ALL things…through Christ.
2. Do we believe it?
3. Do we live like we believe it?
4. Do we tap into that power source within us to begin to build bridges across
the chasms that we might reachthose in need?
5. In order to build a bridge, there must be solid contactmade.
a. I am afraid that we have forgottenwhat it is to be lost…
b. What it means to be disconnectedor hurting…
c. We cannot expectthem to build a bridge to us!
d. We must go to them! Gospel
e. One of my favorite hillbilly jokes is about the fellows fishing on opposite
sides of the river…the one suggestedthathe would shine his flashlight across
to the other side so the other could walk across the beam…the other fellow
said, 'No way, I will get half way overand you will turn off the light!'
f. Will we turn on the LIGHT that others might find the WAY across the
chasm?

III. Bridge Builders Must Change Themselves Before TheyCan Build Any
Bridges.
A. What must not change to be a Bridge Builder?
1. Some have suggestedthat we must change our doctrine!
Ex. "You Baptists…are always so right that you leave no room for others"
2. But if we waterdown the gospelmessagein hopes of reaching more people
we may successfullysee a greaterresponse, but to what benefit?
3. It is the gospel…the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ…that is the
powerof God unto salvation.
4. Methods may change, but the Message must never change!
B. Look at our text tonight. v19-22
1. Paul said he was willing to be all things to all men…why?
2. That he might be used of God to see some saved.
3. He was willing to make whateverchanges were necessary.
C. What must change…we mustchange!
1. We must develop a servant spirit.
2. We must be totally real - no Pharisees allowed!
3. We must put aside our personalpreferences that we might reachfolks.
4. We must be willing to make a sacrifice to build a bridge.
5. A popular word around Christian circles is the word 'Outreach'.
6. Forus to have a ministry that reaches out, we must be willing to do the
reaching!
7. Oh preacher, that is not my cup of tea…tellit to the One who calledyou.
8. Paul made it clearthat this wasn'toptional!

1Co 9:16b "… For necessityis laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach
not the gospel!
1Co 9:17b "…A dispensation of the gospelis committed unto me."
Many NeedA Bridge
We Are Called To Be Bridge Builders
Are We Willing To Change
http://www.brandonweb.com/sermons/sermonpages/1corinthians30.htm
Lesson21:John 5:1-9 – Jesus Is The Bridge Over Troubled Waters
by PastorRickyKurth
You're listening to Lesson21 from the sermonseries "The Gospelof John" by
PastorRickyKurth. When you're done, explore more sermons from this
series.
Summary:
Before being accusedofbeing a law breaker(5:16) Jesus establishedHe was a
law keeperby keeping the feast(5:1).
People go “up” to Jerusalembecause it was a city on a hill (Mt.5:14), but also
because it was where God lived, and when you approachGod you are going
up, symbolically, and when you run from Him you are going down(Jon.1:3-5)
Since the context has the Lord going to Jerusalemfor a feast, we know the
“sheepmarket” (5:2) is part of the tem-ple, a place to buy sheepfor sacrifices,
the place the Lord cleansedwhen He evicted the moneychangers. “Bethesda”

means house of mercy, a fit name for the temple. The “porches” are described
as part of the temple (I Kings 7).
Notice John says the pool “is” at Jerusalem, meaning these areas ofthe temple
had not yet been destroyed, so John wrote this before 70 AD, not 90 AD as
everyone thinks. Why is that significant? When John’s writings contradict
Paul’s, some might think that since John’s writings were written last we
should follow them, much as the latestword from a commander in the
military are the most significant, especiallywhenthey contradict earlier
instructions.
We know John wrote his gospelafterhe wrote Revelation, for the angel told
John he would have to prophesy againafter writing Revelationbefore many
peoples, nations, tongues and kings (Rev.10:11). Since Revelationis a book of
“prophesy” (1:3), John is being told he would have to prophesy again by
writing another book of the Bible, his gospel, a gospelthat has a world
outlook. The word “world” appears 80 times in John (only 33 times in the
other gospels put together). Godintended to reachthe world through Israel, a
world full of peoples, nations, tongues and kings. So Revelationwas written
before John
In I Corinthians 15:8, Paul says he was the lastto see the Lord after His
resurrection, meaning the vision John had of Him in Revelation1 came after
the revelations given to Paul. So if you are going to go by who saw the Lord
last, you need to follow Paul. But as a Gentile, you should follow Paul because
he is your apostle (Rom.11:13).
The “impotent” folk in John 5:3 were a type of the nation of Israel, “blind”
and powerless to enter the kingdom. They were “withered” because they
threatened God’s prophets, like when Jeroboamthreateneda prophet and
God withered his hand (IKi.13:4). These folks should have been “waiting” for
the Messiahto come and heal them, but instead they were waiting for the
angelto stir the water(v.4). New versions omit this verse, but it is part of the
ReceivedText. This verse is similar to II Samuel 5:22-25.
You can see yourselfin a “pool” (John 5:4), so it is a type of the Law
(Jas.1:22-25), a law given by angels (Acts 7:53) Men getting healed singly by

the law was a type of how under the Law men were savedone at a time, but in
the kingdom “all Israel” shall be savedall at once (Rom.11:26). That’s what
they should have been looking to for healing, not the pool that symbolized the
Law! Nothing changedover the previous 700 years (cf. Isaiah22:9-11).
The Lord chose “a certainman” to be healed—notbecause of sovereign
election, but because he was afflicted 38 years (Jo.5:5). 38 years was part of
Israel’s wilderness wander-ings (De.2:14), and the full forty years was a
period of testing, for forty is the number of testing. Moses wasonSinai forty
days, and the spies went out 40 days. All failed. Nineveh was also tested40
days and passed(Jonah3:4), as did the Lord (Mark 1:13). The impotent man
was healedat the beginning of the Lord’s ministry, and the lame man in Acts
3 was healedat the end of it. This lame man was “above forty years old” (Acts
4:22), or 41. The difference between38 and 41 is symbolic of the Lord’s three
years ministry, a period of testing for Israel. A test they failed.
You wouldn’t think the Lord would have to ask if the man wanted to be made
whole (John 5:6), but beggars who didn’t want to work preferred the bigger
alms crippled men received. The Lord didn’t just enable him to get in the
waterfirst, but healed him, a type of Israelsomedaybeing saved apart from
the Law, rather than through it.
“The Jesus Bridge” Sunday SchoolObjectLesson
By: Mary Katecomment
If it’s your wish for your students to understand the gospeland begin the New
Year by understanding God’s love and Jesus’death, this Sunday schoolobject
lesson, using the floor and involving the students, may have a strong impact.
You’ll walk kids through the concepts ofGod losing His closenesswith man
and how Jesus provided the means to get close again.

Sunday SchoolObjectLesson:The Jesus Bridge
Household object:
Masking Tape
Other Materials
– Roll of PaperTowels (sturdy brand)
– Marker
Preparation
Move the table to the side of the room so you have space forkids to jump
across the floor. About two feet from one wall, tape a long line that runs
parallel to that wall. Write “heavenon earth”• on it. Have the tape and
marker readily available so you canuse it againmid-lesson.
Note:As this lessoninvolves running tape across the floor while talking, it
works bestif you read and your assistanttapes.
Sunday SchoolObjectLesson
Have all the students stand behind the taped line (on the heaven-on-earthside.
Put on your best “imagining”• voice.
Have you ever heard the expression, “lines in the sand?”• It means that there
are rules that existin life and those rules are like lines we don’t want to cross.
You can’t really see the “lines”• that God has drawn…such as the lines
betweenheaven and earth.
But they’re real in the spiritual realm. We’ll use tape to make them real to
you.
Right now, let’s imagine we are in a beautiful heaven that God made for us.

With younger children, look all around as if you can really see things.
There are pretty flowers…andwaterfalls…andthe lions we can pet and the
lambs that the lions lie down with in friendship. And look!Over there is God!
He has come down to walk with us in the garden! See how big He is smiling?
He loves us. He is very happy to have us as friends. Just don’t step over the
taped line! That is outside the garden.
I’m going to tell you the story of salvation…how man came to need Jesus and
got outside of the garden.
It started when mankind decided to do bad things. God said to one lady, “You
can go anywhere in the garden, climb any tree, eat any fruit, and do anything
you want. Just don’t eatof that tree over there…”•
Point to an imaginary tree.
It’s gotstuff in it that isn’t goodfor you.
So the lady said, “Okay.” Butone day she thought, “Hm…maybe He lied.
Maybe God didn’t want me to be important. Like, maybe He ought to trust
ME to know what’s right for ME. After all, who knows better what’s right for
ME than ME?”•
So, she startedthe bad things. First she thought of God as a liar, which is
impossible, and then she was very stuck up and thought she knew something
God didn’t. So, that was the first sin.
Take a kid in your class and urge him outside the garden.
And it sounds like she was a very bad lady in comparisonto us. But guess
what? Any of us…
Pull other kids across the line and out of the garden.
…could have done that. We all do our stuff, don’t we? The first personwho
made God out to be tricky and not savvy, the world started to fall…to turn
dark…Now the world is considered“under the fall.”•

Take all the kids and push them back from the tape about eight feet. Put
down another taped line in front of them and write “fall of man”• on it.
Here’s the problem. God is so perfect that He can hardly look at bad…He
can’t be around bad. ForHim to be around bad would be like taking a
perfectly healthy kid and putting him in a room with a bunch of kids who
have the worstcasesofmumps and measles andchickenpox all at once. Or
it’s like there is this deep, deep pit betweenman and God.
Point to the taped lines.
We can’t cross overback to God and heaven.
Pretend you’re looking over at the garden, reaching with your arm and
looking sad.
God was very sad. He createdpeople to be His goodfriends. But after that
lady started everything, He couldn’t getnear people because they’re all
messedup and sick in the head, and fallen, and they do nasty things
sometimes that he can’t getaround. God missedus. Look over. Doesn’tHe
look sad?
Pretend you’re waving and sniffing.
But God would think of something!After all, He’s God!
Get out your roll of paper towels. Tape the end to the piece of tape marked
“fall of man”•. Roll it acrossthe floor to the piece of tape marked
“heaven.”•
Write “Jesus”•ona piece of tape and stick it in the middle of the paper
towels
So, what God did is… He made a man out of Himself. That man is Jesus.
Jesus came to earth and gotnext to all the sick, measled-chicken-poxed-
disgusting mumps bad-mood, stingy selfish people. And He let all that foulness
get all over Him, and all the disgusting things that people did, all that got all
over Him until He died.

He died in our place. He died so that we wouldn’t have to. He took on all that
bad stuff so that He could be a bridge. Now, we can getback to God again.
Everyone take off your shoes.
Have them take off their shoes so they don’t tear the paper.
God wants us to come back. We can now come back by using Jesus as a
bridge. All we have to do is say that we understand that we are no great
shakes. We allmake mistakes andthe mistakes have kept us from being close
to God, sort of like germs would. Then we have to believe that Jesus died
because He took all our sins onto Himself.
When He was resurrected, He would serve as the way back to God.
If we saywe believe all of that, we can cross the Jesus Bridge. Who wants to
be with God again?
If so, repeat after me:
God, I know that I mess up. I don’t mean to, but I am part of this “fall.”• I
need help getting up and over and back to you. I believe Jesus died so that I
could have life with you. I would like to use Jesus to come back to you. I would
like to cross the Jesus Bridge.
If anyone said it, he can cross andbe with God again.
If anyone crosses, make anenormous big deal.
Wow, you made God so happy! He is so glad to have you back!Will you
promise to speak to Him often? Will you ask Him to help if you mess up
again? Will you ask Him what he’s like so that you can be his goodfriend?
Eventually….
tear up the masking tape lines.
…God will take all these lines away…whenwe live with Him in heaven. We’ll
be able to go anywhere we want and do everything with Him. Let’s pretend
we’re up in heaven and sit down here and have a picnic feastwith God.

Jesus the bridge to life (sermon by Graeme Best)
Postedby nswchs ⋅ May 7, 2013 ⋅ Leave a comment
I don’t have to tell you that bridges are very important structures. Sydney of
course, is a city famous for its Harbour Bridge. It is an amazing structure.
The largeststeelarchbridge in the world. It was built over 70 years ago and
spans the 500 metre gap betweenthe northern and southern shores of Sydney
Harbour. And there is a brilliant view from the top. Some of us have even
climbed it
Dictionaries define bridges as a structure built over a river or chasm to
provide a way across.Now a bridge can be a very simple designconsisting of
nothing more than a woodenplank over a ditch .. or they canbe mighty
structures such as our Harbour Bridge. However, whateverthe bridge .. they
all do the same thing .. provide accessacross a divide that would normally be
very difficult to cross. This morning I want to speak about a bridge. A bridge
that provides connection .. that crossesa divide .. a chasm .. that without the
bridge, would be totally impossible to cross.
***
A chasm that would be totally impossible to cross? I’m speaking about the
chasm that lies betweena holy God in heaven and sinful people here on earth.
And the bridge betweenthe two? It is Jesus.
The story starts at the beginning of the Bible where we read of Godthe
creator, making the planet Earth and placing on the earth, all the plants and
animals along with some very unique human beings. Adam and Eve, it tells us,
were the first humans, to walk this earth. They were createdby God and they
lived in a mountain gardenof unparalleled beauty.

The environment in which they lived was one of perfection. Plenty of food.
Nothing to fear. And a relationship with God and his creationthat was
amazing as God and humans were in perfect harmony. There was love and
peace and trust and intimacy. But as you read on, we learn that the beautiful
relationship betweenGod and people was ruined. Ruined by Adam and Eve’s
disobedience. Bytheir pride. By what we call sin.
Adam and Eve disobeyed Godand in doing so causeda separationbetween
people and God. And their disobedience causedeverysingle human born of
natural causes fromthat moment on to be born with the same separation
problem. The same sin problem. We are all born sinful creatures and sin is
like a terminal disease thatisolates us from Godand causes us to die. Death
on this earth came as a result of sin.
God’s word says the wages,the penalty for sin is death. Physicaldeath and
spiritual death. Spiritual death meaning separationfrom Godand all that is
good.. forever. For eternity. The Bible says this results in judgement and hell.
Becausethere cannot be any sin in heaven.. otherwise it wouldn’t be heaven
for very long. And it would appear most people in the world recognise this.
Recognisethatthere is this barrier betweenourselves and God. And as a
consequence,they try and bridge the gap. They want to be in relationship with
God. They want to get to heaven. And so they try all sorts of things.
One of the ways in which people try and reach out to God is through religion.
I have heard people saythere are almost as many religions in this world as
there are countries. Now that might be an exaggerationbut many people
throughout the world are very religious and they do all kinds of religious
things in order to try and bridge the gapbetweenus and God. To try and
please God.
They recite prayers and fast and light candles and have specialreligious
ceremonies. All kinds of religious things. But the problem is, the Bible tells us
that God isn’t interestedin our religious activities. He is interestedin our
hearts. Religious activities, of themselves, do nothing to bridge the gap
betweenus and God. Becausewe are still sinners.

***
This failure of religion to bridge the gap betweenus and God was brought
home to me when a woman of another faith came to speak to me . Her
husband was the chief leaderin their particular religious community.. but she
showedme her arms .. they were full of bruises .. This man, bashed his wife
almost every day. This man, this very religious man, was, like the rest of us, a
sinner at heart. Being religious does nothing to cross the greatdivide between
us and God.
But what about what most people in our country think. Living a goodlife will
get me to heaven. I have takenlots of funerals over the past years. So often
when preparing to take someone’s funeral, a family would tell me how the
person who had died was a goodperson .. a goodfather or mother. Not
perfect .. but nothing that God couldn’t overlook. And so they would be in
heaven. In their minds eye, they picture God having a big set of scales.A
balance. On one side is put all a person’s goodness .. and on the other, all a
bad things a person has done p.. and if the goodoutweighs the bad .. then
they’re OK.
Lance Armstrong’s name has been very much in the news lately. He was of
course one of the world’s best cyclists. Drug fuelled as we now know but still
an exceptionalathlete. You might remember how Lance Armstrong developed
cancerand at one point he thought he might die. He said this .. “quite simply I
believed I had a responsibility to be a goodperson .. if I wasn’ta cheat, a liar,
or a thief, then I believe that would be enough. At the end of the day, if there
was somebodystanding there to judge me, I hoped I would be judged on
whether I had lived a goodlife, not on whether I believed in a certain book or
whether I had been baptised.”
As it turned out he was a cheatand a liar. How ironic! But many, many
people in Australia think like this. Live a good life. I’ll be OK. But there’s a
problem. The Bible says that we have all sinned and come short of God’s
glory. It says, that the very bestof our goodness .. is like filthy rags compared
with the holiness of God. And how can God have filthy rags messing up the
perfection of heaven? He can’t.

Living a goodlife on its own cannever overcome the sin barrier betweenus
and God. Of course we should lead goodlives. God wants us to do that. But
it’s not our ticketto heaven.
Just like living a goodlife is the thought, ‘if I do enough gooddeeds, that will
do it. Give enough to the poor and needy. Help enoughpeople out. Give of
oneselfin devotion to others.’ But sorry, as worthwhile as helping others is,
that won’t work either.
Or what about being right with God by going to church. To a Christian
church. Surely that would be fine? No. Wrong again. Just going to church will
not turn you into a sinless person. Going to church is good, is to be
encouraged, becausethere we can learn about God and worship him with
others .. but in a sense, going to church is just like being religious.
***
All these things I have mentioned, religion, a goodlife, gooddeeds, going to
church .. by themselves will only result in death. We remain literally, enemies
of God. Separatedfrom God by our sin. The truth is, we by ourselves, cannot
bridge the gap betweenourselves and God. It is impossible. But there is a
bridge that does. His name is Jesus.
God declaredthat death was the penalty for sin. And he could not turn from
that. He couldn’t just overlook our sin or forget about it. But we still mattered
to him so much. He createdus. He loves us. He couldn’t stand to see all
humanity separatedfrom him forever. He knew we couldn’t overcome our sin
problem. So he did something about it! He sent his one and only SonJesus .. to
become a man … to live a sinless, perfectlife here on earth .. and then to hang
on a cross .. where Jesus took upon himself the punishment for our sins and in
doing do become the bridge betweenourselves and God.
Jesus paid the price for our sin. He became sin for us .. and died in our place ..
and in doing so, bridged the gap betweenourselves and God the Father. In the
book of Romans it says this .. at just the right time, when we were still
powerless,Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a
righteous man, though for a goodman someone might possibly dare to die.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Paul speaks ofus being justified .. that is a legalterm .. it means to be declared
not guilty. In this case, itmeans to be declarednot guilty of sin. No
punishment to carried out .. why? BecauseJesustook our punishment for us.
There is a famous case from early in the 20th Century where the brother of a
murderer, substituted himself for his brother and was executedfor the crime.
The murderer, after a time, could no longer bear the guilt and confessedto
the crime. But there was no punishment for this man. His brother had taken
the punishment already. That is what Jesus has done for us.
Paul also speaks aboutus being reconciledto God. How, because of Jesus, we
can be no longer enemies of God but his friends. Peacecanreign betweenus,
not because ofanything we have done, but because Jesusdid it for us.
And so, Jesus died so that we might live. Might have eternallife in heaven
with God. He, being God, did what we could never do .. and bridged the gap
betweenus and almighty God. Between heavenand earth. And the Bible says
there are no other bridges. There is no other way. Jesus made this clearwhen
he said, ‘no-one comes to the Father, except through me’. But how do we cross
the bridge? How do we get to heaven through Jesus? Well, the Bible says .. it
is by faith. By belief in Jesus..
Jesus said, “ForGodso loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoeverbelieves in him shall not perish but have eternallife.”
***
The apostle Paulwrote .. ‘It is by grace you have been saved, through faith ..
faith in Jesus .. not of works lestanyone should boast.” This is how we
appropriate Jesus’work on the cross. This is how we are saved from eternal
death. This is how we cross the bridge to eternal life. By believing in Jesus.
Having faith in Jesus. Trusting him with our life .. both now and forever.
Allowing him to lead us .. to rule our lives as Lord. This is the Christian
message. This is the message ofEaster. The messageofthe gospel. Of Good
Friday. It is about having our relationship with God restoredthough faith in

his SonJesus. Who became the bridge through his death .. and who proved he
was the bridge .. the bridge to life .. by rising from the dead, a fact of history
we will celebrate on Sunday..
I close with just one question this morning .. have you crossedthe bridge to
eternal life through faith in Jesus?
-CHORUS-
Jesus built a bridge to Heaven.
A mighty, mighty bridge to Heaven.
Jesus built a bridge to Heaven,
With three nails, and two cross-ties.
Took His people by the hand.
Led them 'cross that barren land.
Pharaohchasedthem night and day,
But the angel of the Lord kept him away.

A humble carpenterby trade.
You'll know him by the works he made.
No towers of stone, nor works ofsteel,
But a woodencross ona wind swept hill.
No boulevard, no avenue.
Not a road by man can carry you.
A highway built by hands unseen,
To that city of gold for eternity.

Written by: Glen Duncan, Mark Kevin Grantt
Fred Hammond & RadicalFor Christ Lyrics
Play "Jesus Is"
How wonderful it is to know that Jesus is
All that I need to make my life complete
And He's so much more, Yeah
He reachedfor me when all else
Went away
He wouldn't leave, through the tough
Times He stayed

He's stoodby me 'till his love I could see
And now I'm secure
And in His powernothing's gonna
Conquer me
I just believe what He says I will be
I won't be stopped as long as I am in
His hand
And when all else fails me on Him
I can stand
'Cause He's a bridge
[Chorus]
He's a bridge so let him take you over
He's a rock that's higher, higher than I
He's a way when there is no other
Jesus is, He's a bridge
Jehovah, Shalom, He is my peace
Jehovah-Rophe the Lord that healethme
He's El-Shaddai and He's more than
Enough of everything I need
It's by His Grace that He's made me His

'Cause everything that I'm not, Jesus is
With new compassions everydayin my soul
He does feed
And in His powernothing's gonna
Conquer me
I just believe what He says I will be
I won't be stopped as long as I am in
His hand
And when all else fails me on Him I
Can stand
'Cause He's a bridge
[Chorus]
He's a bridge so let him take you over
He's a rock that's higher, higher than I
He's a way when there is no other
Jesus is, He's a bridge
The Bridge

Purpose:The purpose of this sessionis to introduce the disciple to the Bridge
presentationof the Gospel.
Objectives
1. The disciple will familiarize himself with the Bridge as an evangelismtool.
2. The disciple will memorize important verses associatedwith the Bridge.
3. The disciple will become confident in his use of the Bridge.
Agenda
1. Mutual sharing, accountability and prayer.
2. Demonstrationof the Bridge by discipler to disciple.
3. Discuss difficulties disciple may have.
4. Disciple presents the Bridge.
Introduction
The Bridge diagram is simply a tool used by many believers to explain the
plan of salvationto a non-believer. It is a visual expressionto aid the
understanding of the spiritual conceptof salvation.
It is important that every believer be confident of his ability to explain the
Gospeland give cleardirection about how one is to respond in order to obtain
salvation.
Once someone is familiar and comfortable using this tool, it will enable him to
give a clear, concise presentationin a relatively short period of time. All that
is needed is a pencil and something to write on: paper, napkin, business card
(a little small but still a possibility).
As you draw the lines of your Bridge diagram, you speak spiritual truths from
the Word of God, thus providing a pictorial representationof the process of
salvationthat the personcan take home.
Opportunities for Presenting the Bridge

Often we find ourselves in a position where we have an wonderful opportunity
for sharing our faith and we get so nervous and afraid that we’ll say the
wrong thing that we end up saying nothing at all! This will never be the case
againonce you know how to present the Bridge and have practicedit. Perhaps
you enter into a discussionwith a non-Christian friend and you have the
opportunity to tell him what you believe. You might say, “May I draw this
diagram to help you understand what I’m saying?” Ormaybe you feelthe
necessityto ask a question like, “Do you know if you were to die tonight that
you would go to heaven?” If the answeris “no,” then you might offer to show
them the Bridge diagram to help explain that God says in the Bible that you
can know you have eternallife. The Bridge illustration can be given in
approximately 15 minutes.
Presenting the Bridge
The Bridge is presentedin four sections:
God’s Love
Man’s Problem
God’s Remedy
Man’s Response
Eachsectionhas appropriate Scripture to be memorized and used so that
your presentationwill be smooth and full of the powerful Word of God. . As
you learn and practice presenting the Bridge, it will become very natural to
you. Remember this is only a tool to help tell the GoodNews of Jesus ChristIt
is the Holy Spirit Who moves hearts and gives understanding.
Presenting the Bridge
Draw two lines with the word “God” on the right, and “ Man” on the left.
MajorPoint—God’s Love
Talk about God first and explain that the Bible teaches that God loves us, and
that He wants us to live life to the full. Recite John10:10

Man was createdto spend time with God to be His friend, and experience His
love. Genesis 1:27
Man was not createdas a robot. God gave man free will
Sample Questions
What does it mean to live life to the full?
How many of your friends are living life to the full?
When you think of God, Who is He and what is He like?
MajorPoint— Man’s Problem
Man has turned his back on God. Isaiah53:6
The result of man’s sin is separationfrom God, Romans 3:23
The payment for sin is death Romans 6:23
Appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27
All men are in the same hopeless situation.
God’s opinion is the only one that counts.
Sample Questions
Would you agree that everyone has sinned somehow?
How would you define sin?
In your opinion what are the consequencesofsin?
When you think of death, what do you think of?
MajorPoint—God’s Remedy

Discuss the fact that God still loves us and desires that we know Him
personally.
There is nothing we can do to bridge the gap.
Jesus Christ is God and also man.
When Christ died voluntarily on the cross, he took our place. He paid the
penalty for our sins and bridged the gap for us.
Sample Questions
If death is separationfrom God, what is life?
What is your understanding of who Christ is and why he died?
Are you familiar with Christ’s death as substitutionary as taught in the Bible?
MajorPoint—Man’s Response
Christ made it possible for us to cross overto God, but we need to take action
that demonstrates that we believe what Christ has done for us.
Praying to God, we need to agree with God that we have sinned, and receive
Jesus as payment for our sins.
Believing in Christ also means trusting what He says in Scripture is true.
Sample Questions
What do we receive when we hear and believe?
According to these verses, how does one cross overto God
Where would you place yourself in this illustration?
Is there any reasonwhy you should not receive Jesus andHis gift of eternal
life?

Presenting the Bridge To Life Illustration, Copyright ©1969, 2007by The
Navigators;re-printed with permissionfrom NavPress, allrights reserved.
Life Application
Practice using the Bridge illustration until you are very comfortable with it
and familiar with all the Scripture to use. Refreshyour memory often so that
you will always be ready to help someone understand God’s plan of salvation.
Use the diagram below to practice your own presentationof the Bridge.
https://bible.org/seriespage/3-bridge
Jesus...The Bridge Builder
Ralph Sorter
Title: JESUS…THE BRIDGEBUILDER
Text: Eph. 2:17-22
Introduction:
There’s a story about two brothers who lived togetherin harmony for
40 years as they farmed the same land their father had passeddown to them.
Their houses were opposite of eachother, sharing the same big back yard.
But something came betweenthem to where they would not speak to each
other, and the laughter their families once shared became an eerie silence.
One day a man looking for work came by the younger brother’s house.
As he thought, he came up with a project. He told the man that his older
brother had bulldozed the river levee and put a creek betweenthem without
asking his permission. So he instructed the handyman to take the woodby the

barn and constructa high fence so he could not see his brother. The
handyman said he had an idea of what to do and went to work.
The younger brother left for a few days to visit his wife’s mother.
When he came back he was stunned by what he saw. Insteadof a fence, the
handyman had built a bridge over the creek…andjust as he walkedout the
back door to view the project, his brother was crossing overthe bridge to
meet him.
“What a greatidea!” the older brother said, smiling. “It was stupid of
me to cut this creek betweenus. Let’s let bygones be bygones and be family
once again.” The younger brother kept silent about the bridge not being his
idea; he had enough sense to realize this reconciliationwas long overdue.
They embraced one another and share a meal betweenthe families like it had
been once before…..onthe bridge!
When the handyman came by the next day for payment, the younger
brother askedhim to stay on for some other projects. But he replied, “Sorry,
I can’t. I’ve got a lot more bridges to build for other folks!”
Jesus is your bridge builder. He has done this kind of project before –
He turned a dividing fence betweenthe Jews and Gentiles into a uniting
bridge. In fact…Jesusis our bridge! Through His death He has reconciledus
to eachother and to God. Eugene Petersonwrote:“Jesus is eternally and
tirelesslybringing everything and everyone together. The energy of
reconciliationis the dynamo at the heart of the universe.”
ReadText.
1. Here at the beginning, be thinking throughout this lessonsomething we
will address againat the end: What reconciliations needto take place in your
immediate or extended family?
2. How many years of bitter conflict canbe transformed by reconciliation?
(Even centuries of bitter conflict betweenJews and Gentiles were dissolvedby

what Jesus did at the cross.) Notice the messagein v. 17 that Jesus came to
preach before the event that made this possible. (The messageofpeace –
eirene – peace, undisturbed.)
Insight: The Son was sentfrom Heaven to preach the message. Now the
Father & Son wait in Heaven for you and me to embrace that message that
has alreadymade it possible.
3. What does verse 16 saywas put to death at the cross? (Enmity – echthra
– hostility.) How does the mind set on the flesh interfere with this process
according to Rom. 8:7?
4. There’s something deep about verse 18 that you shouldn’t miss. What
do both of us have to graspif we are going to receive this message of
reconciliation?
Insight: Both of the offended parties must graspthe same Holy Spirit, for He
alone gives us accessto the Father. If one of the offended parties is not
grasping the Holy Spirit, but holding on to their fleshly grudge, the dividing
wall will foreverstay in tact. We have to walk the isle together, holding on to
the same Holy Spirit.
Insight: This has even greaterimpact betweenthe Jews and the Gentiles.
Before 33 AD the Jews couldaccessGodonly through their high priest, who
entered God’s presence once a year on the Day of Atonement. The Gentiles
had no way to accessGodat all. Todaythat access is available to all if they
will only use it.
5. Once we have met at the Bridge and found our reconciliation, whatdoes
verse 19 say has changedabout our position? (No longerstrangers;no longer
aliens; we are fellow citizens.)

Insight: “Strangers”and “aliens” are terms that describe people from a
foreign country that have no rights of citizenship in this new spiritual nation.
Praise God, through Christ, even the alien is given joint citizenship…the same
citizenship that was grantedto Abraham, Moses, Joshua,David, Elijah, and
every faithful followerof the Lord throughout time! Everything that once
divided (rich vs. poor, free vs. slave, man vs. woman, foreigner vs. native) has
been drawn into the same family…a family that cannot be shaken!
6. What do pieces ofa stained glass window have in common? (The same
lead (the Holy Spirit) holds them all together, and the same light (Jesus, the
Light of the World) makes their individual piece radiate with the composite
beauty of the whole (the family of God).)
7. Verse 19 implies that if we acceptthis messageofpeace and have made
reconciliation, then we are members of God’s household. Describe the ties
you have in your family…are the bonds tight? What have you found to be
the greatestbenefitof family ties in the household of God?
Insight: I don’t know about you, but in the family of God I have found a
support network line none other, I have many spiritual brothers & sisters and
there is always one near me, and I have experienced an intimacy at a new level
that I find no where else.
8. Verse 20 states that God’s house was built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets. What price did they pay to lay down that foundation?
Insight: All but one of them was martyred, and all of them paid dearly to lay
the foundation of YOUR house! Their teachings form the basis on which we
build our lives and our churches.

Jesus was the bridge

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