The Cross Paradox

The cross, once a symbol of terror, becomes the power of God—turning defeat into victory. From Friday’s pain to Saturday’s silence to Sunday’s resurrection, Jesus brings hope: God is still working, even when it feels quiet. In Him, the old is gone and new life begins.

PRAYER
We are here to pray for you - with you. Please share your prayer request or praise report here - https://hopeucindia.churchcenter.com/people/forms/3009, and someone from our team will pray for your need through the week.

NEXT STEPS
If you would like to give your heart to Jesus, it's the best decision you could ever make. We want to celebrate with you, provide you with resources and get you the support you need on this journey. Please fill the form - https://hopeucindia.churchcenter.com/people/forms/297739, and someone from our team will contact you soon.

ABOUT HOPEUC INDIA
Hope Unlimited Church is an independent, Spirit-filled church with multiple campuses in India, serving young professionals and families from all parts of India in a modern, dynamic metropolitan church setting.
More about us - https://hopeuc.in/

FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeucsecunderabad

Transcript

The Cross As A Paradox

SPEAKER_00 0:10

The power and the paradox of the cross. We begin today with a profound paradox. Today the cross is everywhere. We wear it as jewelry, we tattoo it on our skin, we place it on top of our cathedrals or churches. But in the first century, in the days of Jesus, the cross meant something entirely different. It was a symbol of, it was not a symbol of hope, it was not beautiful, it was not inspiring. The cross was a symbol of terror. Somebody said terror. It represented public humiliation, rejection, and shame. To the Roman Empire, it was a burial tool used to crush rebels and slaves. To the religious world, it was a proof that a life had gone terribly wrong. And yet scripture tells us, 1 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 18, the Bible says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. Church, people outside, they don't know the power of God. They don't know the significance of the cross. But for us as we study today, it is the power of God that is released over each of our lives. Today you are here expecting God to touch you. All we need is this very power of God through the cross that can be released in each of our lives. It is not in vain. Cross is not in vain, but it is the power of God. What looked like weakness, what looked like defeat, what looked like the end was actually the greatest display of God's power. To truly understand Easter, we must first understand the weight of what happened on that cross. Everybody, please pay attention.

Friday Saturday Sunday Framework

SPEAKER_00 2:33

There are three things I would like to talk about today. Number one, pain of Friday, the curse. Number two, the silence of Saturday, the waiting. Finally, number three, the voice of Sunday or the victory of Sunday. So the title of my message this morning, Easter, the bridge to a new beginning. Somebody say Easter. Everybody say Easter is a bridge to a new beginning. I would like to dwell upon these three things today as we go through the Easter Sunday morning. The

Good Friday And The Curse

SPEAKER_00 3:20

pain of Friday, the curse. Two days ago, it was Friday. We all were here celebrating Good Friday. But what is the significance of it? What actually happened on the day when actually Jesus was carrying the cross? To truly understand Good Friday and comprehend the depth of what happened on the cross, we must look at the law. We must look at the law. In Deuteronomy chapter 21, we read about the seriousness of sin and punishment. Church. If there is punishment for sin in the Bible, if it was in the past, it is still applicable today. And it is even applicable in the days to come. Because God has not changed and his word has not changed. The difference is we try to live in this world and a time like this, you read the Bible and go through the old test and say, My God, if somebody did something wrong, they will die instantly. The punishment was instant. But today you're sitting in church and an age like this, and you try to, no, no, nothing is happening to me. I can do what I want, I can live like the way I want, I can talk like the way I want, and go to church on a Sunday, ask God for forgiveness, take communion, and you can still be back. Has your God changed when he struck somebody, you know, who crossed the line, they were dead instantaneously, but today you're crossing the line day by day, yet you can simplicity. The difference is only this, my friend. The age has changed. That's all. The age is church age and dispensation is grace. Romans chapter 6 says, My friend, shall we continue in sin? God forbid. No, we cannot continue in sin. If you know what sin is, and if you know what sin is all about, you must stop sinning. That is your responsibility. But I want you to know that for sin there is punishment, and your God has not changed. Deuteronomy chapter 21, verses 18 to 23. I want you to follow the scripture. If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son, anybody, any parent like that, don't raise your hand. I'm also not raising my hand. If someone has a stubborn, rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother, will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring them to the elders at the gate of his town. This literally happened, my friend. This is your Bible. So if there is a rebellious son in the house, what will the parents do? The parents will take this rebellious son and bring him to the elders of the house or the leaders of the house. Amen. They shall say to the elders, the son of ours is stubborn and religious, he will not obey us, he is a glutton and a drunkard. These, then all these men, then all the men of his town. Do you know what happens? Are to stone him to death. You must purge evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid. Can you see this? This is how it is dealt with with sin and you cross the line. If there is a rebellious son in the house, they'll be brought to the elders. And if the rebellious son does not change, this is the story. But the scripture doesn't end there. Verse 22 if someone is guilty of a capital punishment or offense, is put to death, and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave it, leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it the same day, because anyone who's hung on a pole is under God's curse. You must not. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. Somebody who's a rebel, somebody has committed capital sin. They must get the punishment of the cross. And this is how the history was. That's why. Galatians chapter 3, do you know what it says? Galatians chapter 3, verse 13. For it is written, cursed is everyone who hung on a pole. He redeemed us in order that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles to through Jesus Christ. What is happening with Jesus is already recorded in the Bible. If sin has to be dealt with, somebody must pay the price. And we are all rebellious children. We are born in sin. And somebody must pay the price for it. And Jesus stands in the gap and he pays our price. But Jesus took the pain, took the shame on our behalf, and he died for us.

The Cry Of Abandonment

SPEAKER_00 10:58

And I want you to see the pain, the heart of Jesus. In Matthew chapter 27, verse 46. This is a cry of Jesus. From the beginning of his life, Jesus always called God as Father, a name of intimacy and closeness. But here, for the very first time, he says, My God, my God. Why? Why did he cry out, My God, my God, not my father, my father? Because at that moment he was carrying our sin, and sin separates us from God. The eternal intimacy between Father and Son was interrupted. Jesus could endure the nails, he could endure the beatings, he could endure the crown of thorns. But this separation, this silence, this abandonment, this was unbearable. Prophetically, in Psalm 22, it is described in a similar way: a heart melting like wax, a soul poured out like water. He endured the ultimate loneliness so that you and I never have to walk alone. He was forsaken, so you could have forever be accepted. And then Jesus died, gave up his spirit.

Saturday Seasons And Waiting

SPEAKER_00 12:58

We move to the next point of our sermon today, the silence of Saturday. Probably most of us are sitting here in this phase. In Luke chapter 23, verse 46, Father, into your hand I commit my spirit. He gave up his spirit. The world went dark, and then there was absolute silence. Friday was filled with pain, but Saturday was filled with confusion. The disciples were not celebrating, they were shattered. Everything they hoped for seemed gone. To them, the story has ended. Even the enemy likely believed he had won. Because from a human perspective, death always is the end of everything. When somebody passes away, when somebody dies, that's the end of it. We all know what Saturday seasons feel like. Anyone knows what Saturday seasons feel like? Huh? When prayer seems to be unanswered, when a hope feels buried, when life does not make sense, it feels like everything has come to an end. Saturday is the middle ground where a miracle has not happened yet, and the pain of Friday is still fresh. For the disciples, Saturday was a day of dejection, disappointment. If you feel like you are in a Saturday season where your dreams feel buried, the truth is they saw the grave, but they could not see the garden. They saw the grave, but they could see the garden. They did not realize that God was turning the grave into a garden, a place where a new life will begin. What looks like an ending to us is often the beginning of God. The silence of God is not the absence of God. Church, the silence of God is not the absence of God. Behind the scenes, God is working. If you are in the Saturday season, nothing is going well for you, prayers are not getting answered. I want you to know that God is working on your behalf, even though you don't see it. That leads

Sunday Victory And New Beginnings

SPEAKER_00 15:56

me to the third point: the victory of Sunday, the bridge, the bridge to a new beginning. The cross was not a conclusion, it was a bridge. A bridge from death to life, from shame to redemption, from despair to hope. While the disciples sat in disappointment, God was already at work. While the enemy celebrated, victory was already unfolding. In God's kingdom, death is not final, loss is not permanent, endings are not the end. When it seemed like silence had the final word, when hope felt completely buried, God spoke again. Not with words, but with the resurrection power. Friday was a painful day. Saturday was a waiting day. And thank God for Sunday. In all of this, God was working to raise Jesus back to life.

The Women Find An Empty Tomb

SPEAKER_00 17:16

As we step into the resurrection morning, Sunday morning, I want to go, I want you to follow Luke chapter 23. And follow the scripture. What happened that day? The woman had come with Jesus from Galilee, followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfume. Somebody says spices and perfume. Anybody use spices in your life? Anybody use perfumes? Nobody? On the first day of the week, early in the morning, the woman took spices they had, prepared, and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. When they entered, they did not find the body of Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes like lightning stood beside them. The woman bowed down. But men said to him, Why do you look for living among the dead? Verse 6, he is not here, he is risen. Luke chapter 24. The woman went to the tomb. They were not expecting a resurrection. Listen to me, church, they were not expecting a resurrection. Do you know why? Church, I said, Do you know why? They went with spices and perfume. They want to embalm the body more. They want to prepare the body more. Because when they go, it will start to smell more. They were not expecting resurrection. They were going to cover the smell. That's why they took the spices and perfume. They bought spices to manage the smell of decay. They came prepared for death, not resurrection. But when they arrived, the stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty. And the angel said, Why are you looking for living among the dead?

Stop Looking For Life In Graves

SPEAKER_00 19:49

Number one, the shock of an empty space. How often do we approach our dead situations? I don't know how many of you have dead situations. Nothing is going right for you. All your efforts are going in vain. And when we look at the resurrection story, there is a dark space that is laid out for us. It is a dead situation. Failed marriage, broken relationship, lost dreams, old wounds. We want to cover everything with what? Spices and perfume. On the inside, we are hurting. On the inside, prayers are not getting answered. There's darkness everywhere. But we want to cover it up with the best things. And somebody comes close, my God, let us spice it up. The women, when they went there, that's how they went. But the angels questioned them: Why are you here? Why are you looking for the living in the dead? You're supposed to be living, you're supposed to be thriving, you're supposed to be prospering. But what are you doing in the grave? What are you looking for in the grave? And everything in your pocket are the spices and the perfume, just to cover all the difficult situations and the challenges you're going through. And we want to mask it up. And they were too in a similar situation. Stop looking life in the dead places or the graveyard of your past. The space is empty, my friend. That space is empty. If Jesus has washed you, if Jesus has cleansed you, He raised you from that mighty claim, my friend, you don't have to go back to that place.

Surrender That Makes Room For Resurrection

SPEAKER_00 21:58

Number two, the Power of surrender. You cannot have a resurrection without burial. To walk in new beginnings, we must let go of ego, our need for control, and our bitterness. When we choose forgiveness over revenge, we are dying to our old nature. So the supernatural life of Christ can take its place in. So basically, this is all about surrendering. If you surrender your life to Jesus, let go of the things that have been occupying you. So that the very life of God can be built into you. If you are to the brim of your life with all the things of the world, my friend. And covering it up with all the spices and the perfume, that when somebody looks at say, Oh my God, this should be the very holy person. Nobody on this earth can be like him. The power of surrender. If you truly want to have a new beginning, if you truly want to experience the resurrection power of God, then you need to learn to surrender your life, your heart to Jesus. The power of surrender is amazing. We cannot experience new life without letting the old life die. Choose forgiveness over bitterness, choose humility over pride. Every day we carry our cross, and every surrender creates space for resurrection. The

Move Stones So Others Can Live

SPEAKER_00 23:45

third one, moving the stones for others. Somebody say, moving the stone for others. I think coolers are louder than you all. Moving the stone for others. Something unique happened at the resurrection of Jesus. And many of us miss this point. And I want you to see Matthew chapter 27, verse 50. What does it say? At that moment, sorry, when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. Right? Verse 51. At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rock split. Verse 53. Can everybody read, please? Hello? Did anybody read the scripture? What did it say? The previous. Oh my God. We only thought Jesus was in one tomb. Tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised back to life. Resurrection is not just about Jesus coming back to life. Resurrection is about somebody else being risen back to life. Exactly what has happened when Jesus rose. He just not rose by himself, but that raised him power raised many people up from deadness back to life. And that gives you hope, my friend. Deadness is all around. Darkness is all around. And we can be in that space and phase. But when Jesus has risen, and if you truly have experienced that resurrection power, you have risen to a new life. Amen. It began opening graves everywhere. If some of you seated here, maybe it looks like you are in the grave. Just give me five minutes, brother. Just hold on, yeah. Because I have to sing a song, you see. Deadness. Anybody here? You are living but you are dead. You're facing a dead end. Nothing is going well for you. In every area of your life. Jesus wants to resurrect you on the day of resurrection. It overflowed. It reached to others. It brought life beyond Him. People still today are living behind stones. Listen to me. Stones of injustice, stones of loneliness, stones of shame, stones of fear and hopelessness. Why, my friend? When Jesus has risen, why are you still not experiencing that resurrection power in your life? Why are you sitting in the grave? Why are you covering yourself with all the spices and the fragrance? There's no need.

Rolled Away And The Stones We Carry

SPEAKER_00 28:24

Sorry. Do you know this song? Rolled away, rolled away, rolled away. The burden of my heart rolled away. Anyone knows this song? If you've been to Sunday school, you know this song. Come on, I would like you to sing with me. What I say, rolled away. The burden of my heart rolled away. What else it says? All my sin had to go, and the crimson flow rolled away, rolled away, rolled away. The burden of my heart has rolled away. This is a song that is sung in the Sunday school. Sunday school children learn this song, and I've learned this song too. I was meditating this message, and this song just came into my mind. When it is rolled away, why do I have to still be behind the stones? Why the stone is still there, standing in front of me? Why am I still limited? Why I don't have the joy? Why I don't have the peace? Why I'm not successful in my life? Why I'm not able to progress the more I try to go forward? I feel that is a wall. I feel that is like a dead end. My friend, Jesus rolled the stone of Lazarus. Jesus will roll the stone away. You are not meant to be living in a grave. Amen. The heart of Easter is not just a stone rolled away from that tomb, but the stones are being rolled away today in your life and in my life. The empty

Resurrection Spirit Living In You

SPEAKER_00 30:30

tomb changes everything. The message of the empty tomb is not the final. The empty tomb saves something else. Romans chapter 8, verse 11. The Bible says the spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, giving life to your mortal bodies. Amen. He will raise you up today to a new life, to new height. Because the same spirit that raised Jesus up, he will roll the stone away in your life. Easter is a bridge to a new beginning. Easter is a bridge to a new beginning. The world says your past defines you, your failure is permanent, your situation is the same. But Jesus lives. Shame does not have final words, death does not have final word. Your story is not over, my friend. The tomb is empty, so you can live full. I want to close with these scriptures.

Believe And Rise Up

SPEAKER_00 31:49

John chapter 11, verse 25. Believe and you will live. Believe and you will live. John chapter 11, verse 25. I am the resurrection and I am the life. The one who believes in me will live. John chapter 3 verse 36. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life. He who does not have son does not have life. Church, if you don't have the Son in you, you don't have the life. Jesus is the resurrection and He's the life. He wants to resurrect you in a new way today. Whatever the stone that is bothering you, blocked you, Jesus has rolled it out for you today. Live like a son of God and a daughter of God. You know why? Jesus has risen from the grave, from the dead. He wants you to rise up. Turn to your neighbor and tell them, rise up, rise up, tell them, rise up, rise up, rise up to your position, rise up to your calling, rise up according to the will of God. Amen.