Prayer for All Members Based on Pastor Jared’s Message, April 17, 2022

Luke 24:45-48

“Thus It Is Written”

Introduction:  After all that Jesus had told His disciples to prepare them, after they had seen the empty tomb, and even after they personally saw the risen Jesus, they were still dominated by unbelief. But these disciples would go from their doubts to dying for the message. How were they so changed? By Jesus’ power to open their minds to understand and believe what had been written in the Scriptures about Him.

The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that enables us to have the faith to believe what the Scriptures tell us about Jesus. By His resurrection power we can know and believe three things:

1. The Forgiveness Jesus Offers (vss. 44-45)

Then [Jesus] said to them, “… everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures…

The greatest need we have is to have our sins forgiven. The Scriptures bear witness that all of us have rebelled against God, and that there is forgiveness through the Lamb of God: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Lord, please open the hearts of us all to understand and believe that You meet our greatest need, the need to have our sins forgiven.

1. How Jesus Accomplished This Forgiveness (vs. 46)

…and [He] said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead…”

God places the penalty on Jesus for every sin that was ever committed by those who believe in the name of Jesus, and what a beautiful thing that is for us. The resurrection means that God found Jesus’ sacrifice pleasing and He accepted it. The resurrection proves that death did not win, sin did not win, the curse did not win. The curse is defeated. Jesus’ resurrection gives us the promise of everlasting life.

Father, please help us to rejoice that Jesus suffered our defeat and death, and has given to us the victory of His resurrection and eternal life!

1. How Jesus Changes Lives Through Forgiveness (vss. 47-48)

“…and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

The Scriptures testified that it was necessary that Jesus should die, that He should rise, and that forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations. This proclamation, too, is a fulfillment of Scripture, and this faith family is a part of the ongoing proclamation. Jesus changed our lives through His death and resurrection, giving us power to become a part of His story throughout history. What a privilege!

Father, we love You. We thank You for Jesus and what He accomplished. Open our eyes and our hearts to understand and believe the gospel. Help us to live in Christ’s resurrection power and prioritize being a part of what You are doing in Your church.