This Easter Sunday we remember the profound significance of why Jesus came to die and rise from the dead foreshadowed in the story of Lazarus. Namely, that Jesus’ death and resurrection overcame sin and death for those who trust in Him by faith. Our death, darkness, and bondage is defeated by Jesus’ life, light, and freedom. Hallelujah!

Why do we come back to the cross every year? We come to remember Jesus’ willing sacrifice that washed us clean with his blood, and to anticipate the empty tomb that changed everything.

Jesus was human in every respect, and yet without sin. The perfect example of our true identity as believers, securely attached to our Father! There is no time in our life when we should not look to him. Before and during temptation, while we sin, and after we have failed – Jesus is our advocate sitting on a throne of grace.

As followers of Jesus, we have lifelong freedom because God, being just and merciful, took on human form and paid the debt we owed for our sins. The death of Christ has overcome the fear of death in every way, and now death serves to refine our faith and lead us to a heavenly glory this passing world cannot fathom.

We are on a collective mission as the body of Christ to be ambassadors of Jesus. Anyone we encounter should experience what it was like to encounter Him. Our last three values are vital to how we go about accomplishing this mission because they embody the identity of our King. Jesus is extravagantly hospitable, fearlessly generous, and daringly missional, so we will be too.

As we pursue why we exist and where we’re going as Mosaic Church, it is helpful for us to consider our code of conduct – our values. Values are defining marks of our identity that lead to our activity. Our first three values are the following: We follow Jesus. We are one. We are gospel-centered. As those who are followers of Jesus, we are united in Jesus and view all of life through the lens of who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us.

To belong to King Jesus is to participate in His mission with Him. The mission of Jesus, through the church He is building, is to bring His kingdom and push back the gates of darkness until the territories of darkness are no more. As the commissioned church, it is necessary for us to gather up and brief ourselves on the vision and values through which we will accomplish our mission. “We” is a series for us as Mosaic Church to lay out our values; our identity and code of conduct by which we will realize what Jesus has called us to do.

Jesus, the embodiment of true greatness, is worth our heart’s full attention because He is the suffering servant who condescended from glory to dwell among us and bear the death that we deserved for our sin. Having fully paid our debt with His blood, He is now risen and reigns over all things forever.

Followers of Jesus must pay much closer attention to the reliable word of Christ delivered to us through the apostles. Our good Father provides this loving warning to keep us from drifting into things most dangerous for our soul. We pay attention and keep from drifting by having the word of God richly dwell in us, gather regularly with community, and daily walk by the Spirit.

Jesus is greater than all messengers before Him, including angels. In contrast to the angels, Jesus is the heir of David, God incarnate, and Messiah, who is to be worshipped by all creation. When we see Him for who He truly is, we turn from worshipping God’s created gifts to worshiping the infinitely greater one, the only one worthy, Jesus Christ.