Palm Springs Drive Church of Christ

Palm Springs Drive Church of Christ

By Palm Springs Drive church of Christ Altamonte Springs FloridaReligion & Spirituality
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Palm Springs Drive Church of Christ episodes

  • The Three Darkest Hours of Jesus

    Series: N/A

    Service: Lord’s Supper Service

    Type: Lord's Supper Talk

    Speaker: Dwayne Gandy

    The Three Hours of Darkness

    When we gather around the Lord’s table, we remember Jesus. We remember not only what He did for us, but what He experienced for us. Scripture invites us to slow down and consider the weight of His suffering, not only in physical terms, but in emotional and spiritual terms as well.

    In this series of reflections, we have been focusing on the emotional moments in the life of Jesus. These are moments when His soul was not merely wounded physically, but deeply affected internally. To understand the final and perhaps most devastating emotional moment of His life, we must briefly retrace the final hours that led Him to the cross.

    From the Upper Room to the Cross

    Roughly twelve hours before Jesus hung on the cross, He was still in the upper room with His disciples. It was there that He told them something painful and unsettling: they would all forsake Him. Judas was dismissed from the room with the chilling words, “What you do, do quickly” (John 13:27). Jesus then humbled Himself to wash the disciples’ feet, modeling servanthood even as betrayal loomed.

    In that upper room discourse, Jesus spoke of His soul being “troubled.” That language carries the idea of being shaken or stirred deeply. It describes a soul unsettled by an approaching reality. John uses this same language when Jesus stands at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:33) and when He talks of His impending death just after the triumphal entry (John 12:27). These were moments that stirred Him to His core.

    But when Jesus arrived in the Garden of Gethsemane, the language changes. No longer is His soul merely stirred. It is crushed. There, He prays with such intensity that His sweat becomes like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). The betrayal soon follows, marked by a kiss from Judas. The trials unfold rapidly. Peter denies Him, and at one moment their eyes meet. Scripture does not record the look Jesus gave Peter, but knowing the heart of Christ, it was almost certainly a look of compassion rather than condemnation.

    Eventually, Jesus is “delivered over to the soldiers.” That single phrase carries enormous weight. He is marched out of Jerusalem, beyond the city gates, to die outside the city. That departure itself was an emotional moment. To die outside the city was to be cast away, removed from the presence of God’s people.

    On the cross, Jesus experiences further emotional agony. His clothes are taken from Him, and the soldiers cast lots for His garments (John 19:23–24). He looks down and sees His mother watching Him suffer, and He entrusts her care to the apostle John (John 19:26–27). Each of these moments carries deep emotional pain.

    But what follows next may be the worst three hours Jesus ever endured.

    Darkness at Noon

    After Jesus entrusts His mother to John, something extraordinary happens.

    At noon, darkness falls.

    Luke records it this way: “It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed” (Luke 23:44–45, ESV). Other translations say the sun “stopped shining” (NIV, NRSV) or “was darkened” (NKJV). The Greek text is stark. It simply says the sun quit.

    This was not a solar eclipse. There is no indication that the heat ceased, only that the light vanished. And this darkness covered “the whole land,” likely referring to Judea or the surrounding region. At the busiest hour of the day, when the marketplace would have been full and daily life in motion, everything stopped.

    Imagine the confusion. People going about their business suddenly find themselves in darkness. There were no light switches to flip. Lamps would have to be found and lit. This was not normal. It was unsettling. It was unforgettable.

    At the cross, those who had been mocking Jesus were now enveloped in darkness. For three hours, no one could clearly see Him. Jesus hung there in utter darkness, unable to see anyone else.

    The Light of the World in Darkness

    This moment carries profound symbolism. John tells us early in his Gospel, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4–5). Later he adds that Jesus is “the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (John 1:9).

    Jesus Himself declared, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12). Again, He said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5).

    And yet here, the Light of the world is dying in total darkness.

    That is not accidental. It is deeply significant.

    Darkness as Judgment

    Throughout Scripture, darkness is often associated with judgment. The ninth plague against Egypt was darkness (Exodus 10:21–23). It was a darkness so deep that no one could see another person, and no one left their place for three days.

    The prophets use similar imagery. Amos asks, “Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?” (Amos 5:20). Zephaniah describes the day of the Lord as “a day of wrath… a day of darkness and gloominess” (Zephaniah 1:15).

    Jesus Himself spoke of final judgment as being cast into “outer darkness” (Matthew 25:30).

    Darkness represents the absence of God’s favor. It represents judgment.

    Judgment Falls on Jesus

    So we must ask: was this darkness aimed only at those crucifying Jesus? Was it merely a sign so later witnesses could say, “That was the day they killed Jesus”?

    Those elements may be part of it. But Scripture points to something far deeper.

    The darkness was a physical manifestation of what Jesus was experiencing spiritually. During those three hours, judgment was not only surrounding Him. Judgment was falling on Him.

    Isaiah foretold it: “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Later in the same chapter, Isaiah writes, “It pleased the Lord to crush Him” (Isaiah 53:10).

    Paul explains, “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

    Peter adds, “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).

    Sin does not merely exist. Sin provokes wrath. Paul says plainly, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Romans 1:18).

    During those three hours of darkness, Jesus bore not only our sins, but the wrath those sins deserved.

    The Wrath We Were Saved From

    Paul reassures believers, “Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). How was that possible? Because Jesus became our propitiation.

    Propitiation means appeasement. It is the satisfying of God’s righteous wrath. John writes, “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Again, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

    The wrath that should have fallen on us fell on Him.

    This is what Jesus dreaded in Gethsemane. What crushed Him in prayer, He bore fully on the cross. These were the worst three hours of His life, not because of physical pain or human ridicule, but because He experienced the full weight of divine judgment.

    A Compassionate High Priest

    Why did Jesus have to experience this? The writer of Hebrews explains: “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest… For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:17–18).

    There were two experiences Jesus had never known until that moment: guilt and shame. He had never sinned. He had never felt remorse or moral failure. But on the cross, bearing our sins, He experienced the weight of both.

    Hebrews later reminds us to look to Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). The shame He despised was not merely public humiliation. It was the shame of our sin placed upon Him.

    Because He bore that shame, He can now intercede for us with perfect understanding.

    The Darkness Did Not Win

    The story does not end in darkness. John reminds us that the darkness did not overcome the light. Jesus died, but He rose. The tomb was empty. The light returned.

    As we reflect during the Lord’s Supper, we are invited to dwell for a moment in those three hours of darkness. To remember the cost. To remember the wrath He bore for us.

    And then, as we partake of the cup, to rejoice that the darkness was not the end of the story.

    The Light still shines.

     

    20 min
  • Our Incorruptible Inheritance

    Series: 1 Peter

    Service: Praise and Preaching Service

    Type: Sermon

    Speaker: Dwayne Gandy

    Our Incorruptible Inheritance

    Based on a sermon from First Peter on the hope, security, and permanence of salvation in Jesus Christ.

    We have a good solid praise, a prayer of praise, and songs that lift our hearts toward God. It is fitting, then, to begin by praising Him for our incorruptible inheritance. Praise God that this inheritance has been secured by the incorruptible blood of Jesus. Praise God that it has been communicated through the incorruptible Word that will last forever.

    This lesson continues our study in the book of First Peter. We are not moving verse by verse, but section by section. Peter’s letter naturally divides into three major themes: salvation, submission, and suffering. In this lesson and the next, the focus is on salvation. Specifically, Peter wants believers to understand the nature of the inheritance that awaits them, how it was secured, and how it has been revealed.

    One of the reasons First Peter resonates so deeply with us is because of the man who wrote it. Peter was a complicated person, and that makes him relatable. He could express profound faith in one moment and be sharply rebuked by Jesus in the next. He could act with courage and devotion, and shortly after stumble into fear or sin. That is the human condition, and Peter knew it well.

    Near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, He made important promises to Peter and the other apostles. In the upper room, Jesus assured them that He would not leave them as orphans. He promised to send the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26, Jesus explained that the Spirit would do two things for them. He would guide them into all truth, and He would bring to their remembrance everything Jesus had taught them. That promise mattered. The apostles had spent three years with Jesus, hearing countless teachings, parables, and conversations. Without divine help, remembering all of it accurately would have been impossible.

    As Peter writes this letter, the Holy Spirit is helping him remember what Jesus said. Many of the themes in First Peter can be traced directly back to the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels. Peter is not inventing ideas. He is faithfully passing on what he heard, understood, and lived. Through Peter, the Spirit helps us remember as well.

    An Inheritance That Is Incorruptible

    Key Idea: The Christian hope is not rooted in temporary wealth or human effort, but in an inheritance that cannot decay, diminish, or disappear.

    Peter begins by describing the nature of the inheritance itself. In First Peter 1:3–5, he praises God for His abundant mercy. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, God has begotten us again to a living hope. That hope is anchored in an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God through faith.

    Many people are never born into a physical inheritance. They are not born into wealth or financial security. Even when a physical inheritance exists, it requires planning, sacrifice, and effort. Parents may work for decades, consult financial planners, and make careful arrangements to leave something behind for their children and grandchildren. Scripture affirms that it is good to leave an inheritance, but it also reminds us of a sobering truth. Every physical inheritance eventually diminishes or disappears.

    History proves this again and again. Wealth is divided, mismanaged, lost through poor decisions, or simply spent over time. Even famous family fortunes rarely last for many generations. Physical inheritances are corruptible by nature. They fade.

    The spiritual inheritance Peter describes is fundamentally different. It does not fade, diminish, or disappear. It cannot be stolen, misused, or exhausted. Peter wants believers to see that this inheritance is in a completely different category.

    Jesus spoke often about inheriting the kingdom. In Matthew 25, He described the final judgment as a separation between sheep and goats. To those on His right hand, He will say, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” This inheritance required planning, but not human planning. It was prepared before the foundation of the world. God has always intended to share His kingdom with His people.

    Jesus connected that inheritance to a way of life. Those who inherit the kingdom are those who serve, show compassion, and love others. They feed the hungry, care for the sick, welcome the stranger, and visit the imprisoned. This is not about earning salvation through good deeds. It is about a transformed heart that reflects God’s mercy.

    Peter surely remembered the rich young ruler, who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. When Jesus challenged him to give up his possessions, the man went away sorrowful. He could not bring himself to exchange his corruptible wealth for an incorruptible inheritance. That moment left an impression on Peter, and it echoes through his letter.

    The same question appears again in Luke 10, when a lawyer asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus pointed him to loving God with all his heart and loving his neighbor as himself. The parable of the Good Samaritan followed, illustrating what that love looks like in action. Peter understood that inheriting eternal life is inseparable from a life shaped by love for God and others.

    An Inheritance That Is Permanent and Reserved

    Key Idea: Unlike earthly inheritances, our spiritual inheritance is secure, prepared, and waiting for us in heaven.

    Peter also emphasizes the permanence of this inheritance. Jesus taught the same principle in Matthew 6. Earthly treasures are vulnerable. Moths destroy, rust corrodes, and thieves steal. Heavenly treasures are secure. Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

    In John 6, Jesus reminded His listeners not to labor only for food that perishes, but for food that endures to everlasting life. Physical necessities matter, but they are temporary. Spiritual nourishment is eternal.

    Peter adds a beautiful detail. This inheritance is reserved in heaven. It is being kept. It is prepared. Jesus used similar language in John 14 when He told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them. Preparation implies intention, care, and expectation. God is not indifferent about our future. He anticipates our arrival.

    Most earthly inheritances are received after separation through death.

    A Striking Contrast: In this world, an inheritance usually comes only after we are separated from our father by death. In the gospel, our inheritance comes when we are united with our Father by the power of the resurrection.

    Our spiritual inheritance is received through reunion. We receive it when we are united with our Father after the resurrection. That makes it profoundly different and profoundly better.

    An Inheritance Secured by Incorruptible Blood

    Key Idea: Eternal life could only be secured by something eternal and pure, the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

    Peter then explains how this inheritance was secured. In First Peter 1:18–21, he reminds believers that they were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold. They were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

    Traditions cannot redeem us. Religious heritage cannot redeem us. Wealth cannot redeem us. Even sincere effort cannot redeem us from sin. Only the perfect blood of Jesus can do that.

    Peter was uniquely qualified to testify to the sinlessness of Christ. He lived with Jesus, traveled with Him, and observed Him closely for three years. He knew that the blood shed on the cross came from a perfect and blameless life.

    Earlier in his life, Peter struggled to accept the idea of Jesus suffering. After confessing Jesus as the Christ, he rebuked Him for speaking about His death. Yet later, after the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter understood clearly that the cross was not an accident. It was part of God’s eternal plan.

    In Acts 3, Peter preached that the suffering of Christ had been foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by God. He called people to repentance so their sins could be blotted out. The man who once resisted the idea of suffering became a preacher who boldly proclaimed its purpose.

    The incorruptible inheritance could only be secured by an incorruptible sacrifice. The blood of Jesus accomplished what no amount of silver, gold, or tradition ever could.

    An Inheritance Revealed Through an Incorruptible Word

    Key Idea: God communicates salvation through His living and enduring Word, not through fading traditions or human wisdom.

    Finally, Peter explains how this inheritance has been communicated. In First Peter 1:22–25, he reminds believers that they have been born again, not through corruptible seed, but through the incorruptible Word of God, which lives and abides forever.

    All flesh is like grass. Human glory fades. Life is fragile and brief. But the Word of the Lord endures forever. That Word is the gospel that was preached.

    Jesus Himself declared that heaven and earth would pass away, but His words would never pass away. Peter once confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” He did not always live up to that confession, but he believed it. Those words sustained him and brought him back when he stumbled.

    Peter wanted scattered Christians to know that their faith rested on something permanent. Their hope was not based on shifting circumstances, human promises, or fading traditions. It was grounded in the living and enduring Word of God.

    Living in Light of an Incorruptible Inheritance

    Key Idea: Understanding what awaits us shapes how we live now, especially in moments of weakness, suffering, or doubt.

    This understanding shaped Peter’s life. It helped him endure suffering, confront failure, and return to faithfulness. It can do the same for us.

    We will fail. We will wander. At times, our own actions will place our inheritance at risk. Yet when we remember what is waiting for us, what it cost, and how it has been revealed, we are drawn back to God.

    Peter knew he needed the blood of Jesus. He knew there was no other way to deal with sin. Later in his letter, he will speak about surrendering to God, including baptism as an appeal to God for a good conscience.

    If you know what you need to do to be right with God, help is available. If you do not know, help is still available. God desires for all to share in this incorruptible inheritance.

    Praise God for an inheritance that does not fade, that was secured by the blood of His Son, and that is revealed through His enduring Word.

    35 min

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