This is the 7th and last message in Pastor Chuck Bernal's series JESUS. This Easter message, "An A. D. Easter" tells four reasons why Easter changes everything.

1. AN“A. D.” EASTER
Series – JESUS – Part 7
PastorChuckBernal – 04-05-15
God undertook the most dramatic rescue
operation in cosmic history. He determined
to save the human race from self-
destruction, and He sent His Son Jesus
Christ to salvage and redeem them. The
work of man’s redemption was
accomplished at the cross. But without the resurrection, the cross has absolutely no
power or purpose. (Billy Graham)
Easter shows us an A__________________________ D__________
Christ entered the Most Holy Place only once—and for all time. He did not take with him
the blood of goats and calves. His sacrifice was his own blood, and by it he set us free from
sin forever . . . Then Jesus cried in a loud voice and died. The curtain in the Temple was torn
into twopieces, from the topto the bottom. (Hebrews 9:11-12, Mark 15:37-38 – NCV)
And Christ became a human being and lived here on earth among us . . . No one has ever
actually seen God, but his only Son has told us all about him.
(John 1:14, 18 – LB)
He created all the people of the world . . . His purpose in all of this is that they should seek
after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from
any one of us. (Acts 17:26-27 – LB)
Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he
was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he
never sinned. With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne
where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.
(Hebrews 4:15-16– ERV)
Easter underscores an A____________________ D_____________
He died a selfless, obedient death — and the worst kind of death at that
— a crucifixion. (Philippians 2:8 – Msg)
I give my back to the whip, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard. I do not hide
from shame — they spit in my face . . . He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our
sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed . . .
the LORD laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly . . . He was
led like a lamb to the slaughter - Unjustly condemned, he was led away . . . he was struck
down for the rebellion of my people . . . it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him and cause
him grief . . . His life is made an offering for sin . . . (Isaiah 50:6, 53:4-10 – LB)
Christ’s death was also a one-time event,
but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. (Hebrews 9:28 – Msg)

2. Easterexplodesintoan A________________________ D________
Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and
crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.
(Matthew 20:19 – NLT)
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and
found that the stone was rolled aside from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter
and me and said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know
where they have put him!” We ran to the tomb to see; I outran Peter and got there
first, and stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but I didn’t go in. Then
Simon Peter arrived and went on inside. He also noticed the cloth lying there, while the
swath that had covered Jesus’ head was rolled up in a bundle and was lying at the
side. Then I went in too, and saw, and believed that he had risen for until then we hadn’t
realized that the Scriptures saidhe would come tolife again! (John 19:1-9 – LB)
Easter leads us to an A_______________ D___________________
God is so rich in mercy; he loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead
and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the
dead—only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved — and lifted us up from the
grave . . . all because of what Christ Jesus did. And now God can always point to us as
examples of how very, very rich his kindness is, as shown in all he has done for us through
Jesus Christ. Because of his kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And
even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the
good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it.
(Ephesians 2:4-8 – LB)
When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God.
God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate
wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. (Colossians
2:14 – Msg)
Yourold story ends with the cross, your new story begins with the resurrection!
Approachable Deity
AgonizingDeath
Awesome Day
AmazingDiscovery