At first, the men on the crosses on either side of Jesus hurled insults and shame onto Jesus, who claimed to be King and Messiah.  Yet, after listening to Jesus proclaim love, truth, and forgiveness from the cross, one criminal came to believe Jesus was Lord.  And this, Pastor John, explains today, was enough to save this man.  He didn’t have to live a long life of faith.  He didn’t have to tally up a certain number of hours of service.  He just had to believe in Christ and receive His grace and forgiveness by faith.

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 19, as he begins his message, Cries From the Cross.

All humans, since creation, are sinful and deserving of judgement from our Holy and righteous God.  The punishment for sin is death and separation from God, as you can’t live with Him as a sinner.  Yet, there’s hope!  Pastor John explains today that the reason Christ came to earth and faced death was to die in your place for your sins.  He came to take the punishment so that, by believing in Him, you can now live eternally with God in Heaven!  Jesus declared this to be the reason why He came from Heaven.  What a savior!

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 18, as he continues his message Pilate Before Jesus.

Sadly, there’s often a lot of hypocrisy that happens within the church.  As Pastor John teaches today, this was the case with the Pharisees and religious leaders of Jesus’ day.  They refused to enter Pilate’s house, so they could remain ceremonially clean and righteous, but their hearts were evil and murderous as they plotted Jesus’ crucifixion.  As you proclaim your goodness through certain religious beliefs, examine yourself to make sure you’re not also living as a hypocrite, practicing evil in another area.

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 18, as he begins his message Pilate Before Jesus.

Peter loved Jesus and knew He was the Messiah.  He was outspoken to the Lord about his unwavering devotion to Him.  He was convinced in his own mind that he’d never deny Jesus. Yet, as Pastor John teaches today, Peter did indeed deny Jesus, just as Jesus predicted he would.  Peter was so confident in himself.  He really thought he would never do anything like that! His faith was weakened because he was facing this crisis in His own strength, and he didn’t stay connected to God. 

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 18 as he continues his message The Betrayal Night.

In the olive grove, on the night He was crucified, Jesus sought His Father in prayer.  He was so agonized knowing the suffering to come, that he sweated drops of blood.  As Pastor John teaches today, He knew the pain, the weight of the world’s sin, and ultimately the separation from God He would soon face.   Yet, He surrendered and submitted to God’s plan.   He willingly obeyed God and moved toward the cross for your salvation.  Obedience and surrender aren’t always easy.  But you can trust God, who’s leading you.

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 18 as he begins his message The Betrayal Night.

Jesus and His Father are one.  And as Jesus was preparing to return to Heaven, He prayed that all believers in Him would also be one with each other.  Today, Pastor John describes Jesus’ beautiful prayer for all of His future believers, praying that we’d all be one.  Unity is not uniformity.  We are not all required to be replicas of each other.  But, Jesus desires that believers be one body, united to each other by His Holy Spirit.  And in our diverse world today, this is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 17 as he continues his message Listen Jesus is Praying.

While it can be tempting to believe that no one knows or even cares what you’re going through, you can be sure today that God knows.  And He cares-more than you can imagine.  Today, Pastor John will explain how you can know and believe that God is aware of all you’re going through.  Jesus prayed for you before He left this earth, and He prays for you still.  He knows all your pain and troubles and diligently prays for you. He deeply loves you and prays for what will be for your best!

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 17 as he continues his message Listen Jesus is Praying.

In three short years of ministry, Jesus fulfilled all God had for Him to do on earth.  He healed, served, taught, and loved all for the glory of God.  He got to the end of His life and acknowledged that He finished the work He had been called to do.  Today, Pastor John will encourage you to look at your life and determine if you’re glorifying God and fulfilling His call for your life.  Don’t give in to the temptation to give up or get lazy in your faith.  Seek every day to humbly and obediently follow God, glorifying Him as you go.

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 17 as he continues his message Listen, Jesus is Praying.

Jesus spent much time in prayer during his life and ministry.  And He was God, yet in His humanity, He needed to pray.  Today, Pastor John delves into Jesus’ prayer to God in His last few hours of life.  As it was in His life, Jesus’ priority in His prayer, was to glorify God.   He wanted God to get all the glory and honor throughout His life, and in every word He uttered.  Like Jesus, come to God in prayer in utter humility and desire to give Him all the glory.  He deserves it!

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John chapter 17 as he begins his message Listen, Jesus is Praying.

Many times, believers will approach prayer with a whole list of needs and wants.  Yet, as Pastor John teaches today, the purpose of prayer is to know God your father more and be changed by Him in the process, not simply to get what you want.  When you come to God in faith, you should approach prayer with an open and humble heart, seeking God’s will above all things.  And when you pray this way, you’ll experience great fullness of joy and peace because of answered prayer.

Now, let’s join Pastor John in the book of John, chapter 16 as he continues his message Sorrow Turned to Joy.