Who hasn’t overlooked a thing or two in life, or let an opportunity of a lifetime slip through your fingers…all because you lacked one little bit of information that would have tied the bow, closed the deal or connected the dots on that relationship?  That can all be behind you.

In our text this week, we’ll discover a man who encountered Jesus in a very unique and highly questionable situation. But when push comes to shove, almost literally in our story, there is one thing known, the man was blind but now he sees. Miracle or fraud? Deception or truth? You’ll have to decide when you hear the full story.

Desire is a powerful motivator. It centers in our heart and mind and moves us to do or become something that we believe will satisfy the longing of our heart, that will quench our thirsts, that will refresh our souls, that will bring us joy, happiness, and pleasure. As we enter our new sermon series, entitled “One Thing”, we will be examining through Scripture those things which we should possess in our lives that truly are important and life fulfilling, beginning with One Thing Desired.

There’s something to making a grand exit. It sticks with you, seals a figure in that moment in our minds and in our hearts. Rather it’s Grogu heading out with Luke, Humphrey Bogart bidding Ingrid Bergman ado in Casablanca (“Here’s looking at you kid…”), or Moses ascending “Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah” (Deuteronomy 34:1), surveying the Promised Land he would never enter, those final moments carry with them a weightiness that is hard to put into words.

We are the body of Christ, and in Him we die and live again. It is because of His death, burial, and resurrection that we find life everlasting. No longer confined to the shell of mortality, rather, set free by the Spirit to embrace immortality and a life which is imperishable.

I’ve often wondered, what type of wood was used to make the cross upon which Jesus died. How did it feel to the touch of the hand? Was it rough or smooth? Was it heavy or light in weight? And why was that particular wood used? Was there any significance about it for the Roman soldiers to prefer it over other woods for crucifixion?

Much like life, the Bible is filled with interesting and crooked characters. All the way back to Adam’s cowardice and rebellion to David’s adultery and premeditated murder. We have characters with purpose and resolute like Esther and Elijah. And we also have people that act in dark ways to accomplish nefarious acts.

Today we will take a look at a few of these characters that lead us from Jesus’ betrayal with a kiss, to an illegal Jewish council, to a back and forth questioning of governors and ending with the exchange of a murderer.

It would almost seem like everything was spinning out of control and I’m sure the disciples felt that but as we will see, everything was falling into place. And while we can relate to many of these characters, there’s one person in particular that will help bring everything into perspective. The exchange of the innocent for the guilty and why that is so crucial for us today.

Jesus knew that He came to Jerusalem for this very reason, but still His humanity brought forth some concerns. Wouldn’t yours? How could He not think about the beating that He was about to endure? How could He not focus on the pain that He was about to submit His body to? He knew not death but was about to run headlong into the greatest battle of His earthly life, His own death on the cross. Yet, to Him, could it be but a time of sleep? Possibly, but with the sin of all mankind upon His shoulders it would mean separation from His Father. That’s one He was struggling to embrace. So, His heart was heavy, even to the point of death before He made the journey down the Via Dolorosa.

Jesus clearly answered that question.  In our nation where it is often insisted that NOTHING is wrong, and everything should be tolerated, how do our Savior’s teachings during that final week apply to us? Our journey to the cross begins at Bethany and will include the Passover and Last Supper.

What about the church? Have you ever wondered why we are the “First Christian Church” in Union, Missouri? What makes us different than the other churches around us? What is our heritage, our roots? And in discovering that, will it help us understand what makes us unique? There must be some reason that 91 years ago some Christians in the area joined together to establish this congregation rather than join one of the other churches already meeting.